Duplicate of Czech birth certificate with apostille

How Can I Get a Duplicate Birth Certificate from the Czech Republic?

It is possible to obtain a duplicate birth certificate from the Czech Republic. However, the application must be submitted in person within the Czech Republic at the local civil registry office where the birth was originally registered. Someone must physically visit the local civil registry office to submit the required application.

The document can be obtained by the person concerned (for their own birth certificate), by a parent (for a minor child's document), or by a close relative of the person (a child, sibling, spouse, or grandchild).

A third party can also obtain the duplicate if they have a power of attorney from the person concerned or one of their close relatives. A power of attorney can always be arranged; however, certain complications may arise depending on the current location of the grantor (for example, one of the child's parents). We assist with obtaining duplicate Czech birth certificates, preparing the power of attorney, and providing full guidance on where to have it notarized.

Although formally called a duplicate, the document is identical to the original birth certificate in every respect - the only difference is the current date of issue.

How to Get an Apostille for a Czech Birth Certificate

An apostille can be placed on a Czech birth certificate, but this can only be done within the Czech Republic. No authorized bodies outside the country, including consulates, can issue an apostille. The certificate must be physically brought to the Czech Republic, where someone must complete the apostille process through all the required government offices.

The apostille is issued by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically by its office in Prague. In addition, before the document is submitted to the Ministry, it must first be certified with a special stamp by the regional or municipal administration where it was originally issued. Without this step, the Ministry will not complete the final apostille.

The apostille process itself is relatively quick and typically takes 1-3 business days. In our experience, the most time-consuming part is delivering the document to the Czech Republic.

No power of attorney from the parents or relatives is required for the apostille - any third party can handle the procedure for you if you already have the document in any form. A power of attorney is only necessary when obtaining a duplicate birth certificate from the civil registry office, not for the apostille itself.

Obtaining older documents for people born in the Czech Republic many years ago can be challenging. Although it is difficult to specify an exact year, we have found that birth certificates for those born before approximately 1950 are particularly difficult to obtain. However, if you are in this situation, feel free to contact us, and we will explore possible solutions for your case.