Authentication/legalisation services
When is consular authentication/attestation necessary?
For documents to be used in Hungary, it is often required that the signature on the document is authenticated by a Hungarian consul. Authentic copies (contracts and translations) prepared abroad are generally only acceptable in Hungary if done/attested by a Hungarian consul. Please inquire at the relevant Hungarian authority or your Hungarian lawyer to verify whether a consular authentication is necessary.
1. Documents issued by the authorities of Saudi Arabia:
Hungary and Saudi Arabia are signatories of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents.
Documents issued by the authorities of Saudi Arabia are valid in Hungary after they have been legalised by the Saudi authorities with the Hague Apostille (must mention the "Hague Convention of 5 October 1961"). No further legalisation by the Embassy of Hungary is required.
For more information on legalisation of Saudi documents with the Hague Apostille, contact the Saudi authorities directly: https://www.mofa.gov.sa/en/Pages/contacts.aspx
How to request the Apostille service:
Open https://services.mofa.gov.sa/Ratification/RatificationInquiry/Inquiry
- Apostille
- Create apostille request
- Fill in your information
- Upload the document
- Submit your request
- Pay the fees (online payment) 30 SAR
- Book an appointment
- Present the document to the MOFA staff for verification
- PDF file to be sent to you by email
2. Documents issued by the authorities of Bahrain:
Hungary and Bahrain are signatories of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents.
Documents issued by the authorities of Bahrain are valid in Hungary after they have been legalised by the Bahraini authorities with the Hague Apostille (must mention the "Hague Convention of 5 October 1961"). No further legalisation by the Embassy of Hungary is required.
For more information on legalisation of Bahraini documents with the Hague Apostille, contact the Bahraini authorities directly: https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Consular/Legalization/tabid/151/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Authentication/attestation/legalization is subject to a fee
Authentication of signature
You will need the document on which your signature will be authenticated and a valid passport or ID card (and for non-saudis an iqama). If you sign for a company, please also present a recently issued document establishing your signing authority.
How can I get a certificate of life for my Hungarian pension?
The Central Administration of National Pension Insurance requests life certificates from time to time. The consul will sign these free of charge, without prior appointments. Please bring the certificate document and a valid photo ID with you.
How to request authentication/attestation services?
Requests may be submitted to the Embassy of Hungary in Riyadh in person or due to COVID-19 in exceptional cases by post (please consult with the Embassy first about it!). For personal submission of the documents, an appointment has to be booked through email at consular.ryd@mfa.gov.hu. The Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Riyadh provides for legalization of public documents issued by the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen. For Yemen, due to the ongoing war, special instructions apply – please consult first with the Embassy.
Do you need attestation of documents issued in Hungary?
In case you would like to attest (diplomatic attestation) documents issued by Hungary, then the Embassy of Hungary in Riyadh is not competent, please read more information regarding this here: https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/information-on-the-legalisation-procedure-of-documents-to-be-used-abroad