Apostille and translation of foreign documents
Published on 10 October 2026 · Updated on 10 October 2026
In short
Apostille and translation for Luxembourg company formation depend on where each foreign document was issued. A foreign public document, such as a criminal record extract, should in principle carry an apostille from a country party to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. Some EU documents are exempt. A sworn translation may be required.
Definition
The apostille is a certificate, affixed by the competent authority of the country that issued a public document, which attests to the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp on that document and exempts it from legalisation in the other countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention.
Key points
- Convention
- The Hague, 5 October 1961
- Criminal record for the licence
- Less than 6 months old
- Period covered
- Countries of residence over the last 10 years
- Luxembourg electronic apostille
- Since 7 May 2026
Which formality applies, by country of origin?
| Country that issued the document | Usual formality |
|---|---|
| European Union member state, for a document covered by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 | No apostille required, for example for a civil status record or a criminal record extract |
| Country party to the Hague Convention | Apostille issued by the authority of the country of origin |
| Country not party to the Convention and outside the European Union | Legalisation, generally by the foreign affairs ministry of that country and then by the embassy or consulate |
The recipient of the document, whether the notary, the Ministry of the Economy or a bank, may have its own requirements. Check them before ordering the documents.
Prepare your foreign documents
- 1
List the documents
Criminal records, extract from the register of the shareholder company, identity documents, proof of qualification: we draw up the list according to your file.
businessregistration.lu - 2
Order recent documents
The criminal record required for the business licence must be less than 6 months old, for each country of residence over the last 10 years, or otherwise be replaced by an affidavit.
Founder - 3
Have them apostilled or legalised
With the competent authority of the country that issued the document, not in Luxembourg.
Authority of the country of origin - 4
Have them translated if needed
By a sworn translator when the document is not in a language accepted by the recipient.
Sworn translator - 5
Submit the file
We check that the documents are consistent before the appointment with the notary and the filing with the ministry or the LBR.
businessregistration.lu
Luxembourg only apostilles its own documents
Guichet.lu states it clearly: only public documents issued in Luxembourg can be legalised or apostilled there. A French, Belgian or German criminal record therefore cannot be apostilled in Luxembourg. Conversely, a Luxembourg document intended for use abroad, such as an RCS extract, is apostilled through MyGuichet.lu, now also in electronic form.
Translations: plan for languages
Luxembourg authorities work in French, German and, for many procedures, English. A document written in another language is generally accompanied by a translation made by a sworn translator. The notary, the ministry and the bank each set their own requirements: we check them for your file before anything is ordered.
Timing depends on the country of origin, not on Luxembourg: a criminal record or an apostille can take several weeks in some countries. Order them as soon as the project starts. See also the list of documents required to form a company and our page for non-residents.
Next step
Foreign documents in your file?
Tell us your countries of residence: we will send you the list of documents and formalities to plan for.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a foreign criminal record apostilled?
In the country that issued it, with the authority that country has designated for the Hague Convention. Luxembourg can only apostille public documents issued on its own territory. For a document from another EU member state, first check whether Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 exempts it from apostille.
Does a European criminal record need an apostille?
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 removes legalisation and apostille for certain public documents exchanged between member states, including criminal record extracts. A record issued by another member state and presented in Luxembourg is therefore in principle exempt. The recipient may still ask for a translation if the document is not in a language it accepts.
Do I need to translate a document written in English?
Not necessarily. English is often accepted in Luxembourg, in particular by many notaries and banks. The requirement depends on the recipient and the type of document. We check before anything is ordered, to avoid an unnecessary translation or a rejected file. A document in another language is generally translated by a sworn translator.
Which criminal record is needed for the business licence?
A non-resident manager, or one who has lived in Luxembourg for less than 10 years, provides a criminal record extract less than 6 months old from each state where they lived during that period or, failing that, an affidavit. A Luxembourg extract, bulletin no. 3, less than 6 months old is added.
How much time should I allow for foreign documents?
It depends entirely on the country of origin: issuing the criminal record, the apostille and the translation each have their own lead time. We cannot guarantee it. The safest approach is to order the documents at the very start of the project, bearing in mind their 6-month validity.