How to Apostille a Death Certificate from Denmark

If someone has died in Denmark and you need to use the death certificate in another country, you'll almost certainly need a Hague Apostille. Denmark is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means Danish public documents can be authenticated for use in over 120 member countries through a single stamp — no chain of consular legalisations required.

But the process has strict requirements that trip up most foreign families.

Which Document Gets Apostilled

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will only apostille the Personattest — Denmark's official civil status certificate issued by the local parish (sogn) after the burial or cremation is complete. They will not apostille:

• Hospital-issued printouts
• Scans or photocopies of any document
• The physician's medical death certificate (Dødsattest Page 1)
• Screenshots or photographed PDFs

The Personattest must be either the physical original with handwritten signatures or a digitally signed document with a verified blue-bar PDF signature. This distinction matters: if your funeral director emails you a "copy" of the death certificate, that copy will be rejected at the Legalisation Office.

The Apostille Process Step by Step

1. Purchase the apostille online first. Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' webshop and pay 250 DKK per document before you visit or mail anything. You'll receive a receipt that you must bring with you or include in your mailing.

2. Submit the physical document. You have two options:

• In person at the Copenhagen office: Same-day processing. Maximum 7 documents per visit. Bring your prepaid receipt and the original Personattest.
• By mail: Send the prepaid receipt and original document to the Legalisation Office. Processing takes 5-7 business days, plus return postage time.

3. Collect or receive the apostilled document. The apostille is physically affixed to the document — a stamp or attached certificate that authenticates the signing authority's credentials.

Translation and Notarisation

For countries that require a translated death certificate, you need a certified translator (translatør). In Denmark, certified translators are authorized by the Danish Business Authority and their translations carry legal weight.

Key points on translations:

• The translator's certification must be notarised by a Danish notary public (notar) at the local city court — fee is 300 DKK per notarisation
• The apostille goes on the original Danish Personattest, not on the translation
• Some countries require a separate apostille on the notarised translation — check with the receiving country's embassy

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays

Submitting before the Personattest exists. The parish cannot issue the Personattest until the burial or cremation is complete. Families who try to rush the apostille before the funeral find there's nothing to apostille yet.

Sending digital copies by email. The Legalisation Office requires physical originals or verified digital signatures. A PDF attachment from a funeral director will be rejected.

Forgetting to prepay. You cannot pay at the office. The webshop purchase must happen before submission, and the receipt must accompany the document.

The Denmark Expat Death Guide includes a visual checklist showing which documents require physical originals versus digital submission, plus a step-by-step apostille workflow with Ministry contact details.

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