Media release from the Department of Internal Affairs
18 December 2012

Electronic authentication service now available

New Zealanders who need officially-verified documents for use in most countries can now get them issued electronically through the e-Apostille service run by the Department of Internal Affairs’ Authentication Unit.

An e-Apostille is an electronic version of an Apostille certificate, which the Authentication Unit applies to many types of New Zealand-issued documents to verify them for use in the more than 100 countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention, including the UK, Australia and USA.
Previously, Apostilles had to be transmitted by mail or courier.
“Any customer with any type of public document can now apply for an e-Apostille,” said Carlee Reid, Team Leader of the Authentication Unit. “A wide range of customers already use our services: exporters, law firms, trade mark attorneys, accountants and travel and employment agencies, as well private individuals who work, marry, study, adopt a child, or sell property overseas.”

Carlee Reid says the e-Apostille has many advantages for customers: “It can be emailed overseas, saving time and money, and allows customers to meet tight deadlines. It has more security features than a paper Apostille so is helping to ensure New Zealand issued documents are not used fraudulently overseas.”

New Zealand is one of only four countries in the world that issues e-Apostilles. The Department prioritised implementation of the service as it offers New Zealanders a fast, cheap and secure way of submitting documents overseas.

Details of the e-Apostille service can be found at: http://www.dia.govt.nz/apostille

ENDS