Overview

• An appointment is required.  We cannot accommodate walk-ins.  Schedule an appointment using our online appointment system.
• All nationalities are eligible to request notarial services.
• Documents should be for use in the United States.  If your document is for use in the Kingdom of Denmark or another country, consult with local authorities to confirm if a U.S. notary is appropriate.
• If you have multiple documents, please schedule only one appointment.  You may notarize more than one document during your visit.
• No-fee notarial services may be provided for documents at the direct request of a U.S. municipal, state, or federal entity.  Examples of such documents include voting-related materials, official government forms (e.g., Social Security, VA, IRS), and documents related to U.S. military service.  Notarial services for private or commercial use do not qualify for a fee waiver.  Consular staff may request proof that the document qualifies for no-fee processing.
• Need a notarial service sooner?  Make an appointment with a Danish notary public, and then obtain an apostille from Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  In Denmark, notaries public are deputy judges at the civil courts.

U.S. Documents in Denmark

If you need to use a U.S. document in Denmark, you may be required to obtain an apostille, a certification that verifies the authenticity of the document for international use.  The Embassy does not issue apostilles.  Please review the following guidance for additional information about obtaining an apostille for a U.S. document.

Both the United States and Denmark are parties to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which established the apostille process.  This means that U.S. public documents bearing an apostille do not require further legalization by the Danish authorities or the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen.

Documents legalized through the apostille process are generally accepted in Denmark under this Convention. However, it is your responsibility to confirm that the receiving party in Denmark will accept a U.S. document apostilled through this process.

Federal Documents

If your document is signed by a U.S. federal official, U.S. consular officer, military notary, judge advocate, or a foreign consul registered with the U.S. Department of State, you must obtain an apostille from the U.S. Department of State. To do so:

• Ensure the document is an original or certified copy (with original seals, signatures, and issuance date).
• If required, have the document professionally translated and notarized—but do not notarize the original federal document.
• Include the official’s legible signature, printed name and title, agency seal, and letterhead.
• Submit your documents, Form DS-4194, and payment to the Office of Authentications at the U.S. Department of State.

State Documents

If your document was issued by or in a U.S. state and is intended for use in a Hague Convention country, you must have it certified or obtain an apostille from the appropriate authority—typically the state’s Secretary of State.  Further authentication by the U.S. Department of State is not required.

• Determine which U.S. state issued your document.  Apostilles for state-issued documents must be obtained from that state’s Secretary of State or equivalent authority.
• Confirm your document is eligible for an apostille.  Common examples include birth, marriage, and death certificates; notarized documents; court records; and school transcripts or diplomas.  The Embassy does not provide case-specific advice about whether your document is eligible for an apostille.
• Check whether your document needs to be notarized or certified first.  Some states require notarization or county certification before they will issue an apostille.
• Review the official website of the state’s Secretary of State to find detailed instructions, forms, fees, and mailing addresses.  Please review the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s list of U.S. competent authorities by state.
• Submit your request by mail or in person according to the instructions on the state website.
• Wait for processing and receive your apostille certificate, which will be attached to your original document.
• Use the apostilled document in a Hague Convention country.  No further authentication is required by the U.S. Department of State.