Corporate document translation is needed when a foreign company takes part in a notarial transaction in Estonia, or when an Estonian company's articles, registry extract or power of attorney is going abroad. An Estonian notary will only accept a foreign-language document with a translation by a sworn translator; notaries themselves stopped certifying translations on 1 January 2020. The typical case is a foreign parent setting up or buying into an Estonian company. The notary needs the parent's documents apostilled and translated before the signing date, and that preparation usually takes longer than the deal itself.
| Institution | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Notary in Estonia | Yes, for any foreign-language document. |
| Bank opening an account | Depends on the bank. English documents are often accepted as they are. |
| Foreign notary or registry | Local rules apply; often a sworn translation with an apostille. |
| Foreign partner signing a contract | A standard translation is usually enough. |
Until the end of 2019 an Estonian notary could certify a translator’s signature. Since 2020 that role belongs solely to the sworn translator, who is personally liable for the accuracy of the translation and whose certification forms part of it. Our sworn translation service covers the language pairs most often needed in company transactions.
The notary can see an Estonian company’s data in the commercial register directly, so the translation work mostly concerns the foreign party. If a UK or US parent is buying a share in an Estonian OÜ, for instance, the notary will ask for its registry extract, the board resolution approving the deal and the representative’s power of attorney, each with an apostille and a sworn translation.
When an Estonian company’s registry card, articles or power of attorney is going to another country, any Estonian notary can issue the apostille. The fee is €27.71 including VAT and the processing time is five working days (notar.ee). The order is the same as in the other direction: apostille first, then translation, so that the apostille text is translated too. Our apostille and legalisation service can handle the submission.
Documents going to Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Ukraine need no apostille, as Estonia has legal assistance treaties with these countries.
Notaries generally want a recently issued extract so that information on the board and signing authority is up to date. The exact requirement comes from the individual notary, so check it before you order the extract. The translation is tied to that specific extract: if the notary asks for a newer one, it has to be translated as well. Order the translation once the signing date is fixed.
Corporate documents often come as one package with contracts and financial statements; see all our business translation services.
Yes, if it was made and certified by a sworn translator. Any sworn translator can be checked in the official list kept by the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs.
It depends on the destination. For Hague Convention countries, generally yes; for Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, no. Always confirm the requirement with the receiving side.
That is decided by the notary or institution receiving it. Check before ordering, because a translation of an outdated extract has to be redone.
No. The sworn translator dates the certification on the day the translation is completed. If you need a translation for a specific date, order it in time.
Yes, unless it was issued in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland or Ukraine. Since 19 March 2025 this also applies to documents issued in Russia, as Estonia's legal assistance treaty with Russia has ended.
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