Cyprus Apostille: Fees, Offices & UK Docs

Short answer: For a Cypriot public document, apostille certification is done by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order. The official fee is EUR 5 per document. Use the Nicosia office at 122 Athalassas Avenue or the Limassol office at 21 Spyros Araouzos, 1st floor. Foreign documents must normally be apostilled in the country that issued them, not in Cyprus.

Apostille rules are simple in theory and painful in practice: the stamp authenticates the signature, role, and seal on a public document so it can be used in another Hague Apostille Convention country. It does not prove that the document’s content is correct, and it does not make a foreign document “Cypriot”.

Check the receiving authority’s document checklist before ordering originals, legalisation or translations.

Official sources checked, 3 October 2026: The sources below cover Cyprus apostille certification, the current payment method, UK legalisation and EU public-document exemptions.

Fast Rules

• Cypriot public documents: apostille in Cyprus through the Ministry of Justice and Public Order.
• Foreign public documents: if an apostille is required and the Convention applies, obtain it in the country that issued the document.
• UK documents: legalise through the UK Legalisation Office; GOV.UK says documents issued outside the UK cannot be legalised there.
• Some EU public documents: may be exempt from apostille under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, but only for covered document categories and only between EU member-state authorities.
• Translations: ask the receiving authority which language and certification it requires; see the EU simplifications below.

Official Cyprus Apostille Offices

The Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order is the Central Authority for apostille certification in Cyprus.

The official fee is EUR 5 per document. The Ministry’s notice of 27 February 2026 makes credit card the only accepted payment method nationwide from 16 March 2026. This later notice supersedes the older guidance about paying with stamps.

UK Documents For Cyprus

UK documents are not apostilled in Cyprus. They go through the UK Legalisation Office.

GOV.UK currently lists:

GOV.UK also says some documents must be certified by a UK public official first, and that birth, death, marriage, civil-partnership and adoption certificates, ACRO police certificates, DBS certificates, fingerprint certificates, and some other documents are not eligible for e-Apostille. All UK timing estimates can take longer if, for example, a signature needs verification.

What Documents Usually Need Apostille?

Marriage Certificate

For Cyprus use:

• If the receiving authority requires an apostille for a foreign certificate, obtain it in the issuing country; check exemptions and translation requirements first.
• For a Cypriot certificate requiring an apostille for use abroad, obtain the apostille in Cyprus.

For Schengen or embassy use:

• Ask the receiving consulate whether it wants the original, a certified copy, a translation, or a specific translator stamp.

Birth Certificate

• If an apostille is required, obtain it in the issuing country.
• Check the receiving authority’s accepted language and translation requirements.

Education Diploma

• If an apostille is required, obtain it in the issuing country.
• Translate if requested.
• An apostille authenticates the document’s signature, capacity and seal; it does not establish academic or professional recognition.

Police Clearance Certificate

From the UK:

• Ask the receiving authority which UK police certificate it requires.
• Use the UK Legalisation Office for apostille.
• GOV.UK says ACRO police certificates are not eligible for e-Apostille, so check whether the receiving authority requires a paper apostille.

From other countries:

• Obtain the certificate from the issuing country.
• If an apostille is required, obtain it there.
• Translate into Greek or English if requested.

Check the receiving authority’s required issue date for police certificates; this guide does not prescribe a universal validity window.

Powers Of Attorney And Private Documents

Cyprus can apostille private-law documents only under conditions. The Ministry guidance explains that the apostille certifies the public authority signature/seal chain, not the private content itself. For a private document, that can mean certification by an authorised certifying officer, district administration certification, and then apostille.

When Apostille May Not Be Needed Inside The EU

Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 abolishes apostille requirements for covered public documents issued by one EU member state and presented to authorities in another. Covered areas include birth, marriage, divorce, parenthood, domicile/residence and nationality. For absence of a criminal record, the exemption concerns documents issued for an EU citizen by the authorities of that citizen’s country of nationality.

This is not a blanket exemption for every document, and it does not govern recognition of the document’s legal effect. Ask the receiving authority to explain how the exemption applies to your document.

Translation In Cyprus

Check language requirements before commissioning a translation.

For documents covered by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191:

• A certified translation made in any EU member state must be accepted.
• A multilingual standard form is available for some covered documents and can avoid translation requirements.
• The form accompanies the public document; it is not a standalone substitute.

For other documents, ask the receiving authority which language and translator certification it accepts.

Certified Copies And Affidavits

A certified copy is not the same thing as an apostille. Cyprus Ministry guidance distinguishes original public documents and certified true copies issued by the relevant Cyprus authority from ordinary photocopies.

For private documents in a language the apostille authority does not understand, the Ministry says a translation or an affidavit identifying the type of document is needed to assess certification. This does not establish acceptance by the eventual receiving authority.

Practical Checklist

1. Identify the receiving authority and get its current checklist.
2. Confirm whether the document is Cypriot, UK, EU, or from another Hague Convention country.
3. If an apostille is required, obtain it in the issuing country.
4. For Cypriot documents, use the Ministry of Justice apostille offices in Nicosia or Limassol.
5. For Cyprus certification, pay EUR 5 per document by credit card.
6. Translate only after checking accepted language and translator requirements.
7. Ask whether the receiving authority needs originals or certified copies; keep scans for your records.
8. Re-check validity windows for police certificates and civil-status documents before submission.

Verify the receiving authority’s checklist and any exemption first, obtain an apostille where required, then arrange the accepted translation.

Related guides:

• Residence Permit Guide — documents needed for RP application
• Cyprus Citizenship — documents for naturalization
• Schengen Visa from Cyprus — visa application guidance

Sources

• Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order — Apostille — official Cyprus apostille authority, offices, fee, and scope
• Gov.cy — Apostille service — official service listing
• Gov.cy — 2026 apostille fee payment update — official payment update
• GOV.UK — Get your document legalised — official UK Legalisation Office guidance and fees
• HCCH — Apostille Convention status table — Hague Apostille Convention countries
• European e-Justice Portal — Public documents — Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 summary