Duplicate of Czech birth certificate with apostille
How do I get a duplicate birth certificate from the Czech Republic?
It is possible to obtain a duplicate birth certificate from the Czech Republic. However, this must be done 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 individual themselves (for their own birth certificate), by a parent (for a minor child's document), or by close relatives of the person (children, siblings, spouses, or grandchildren).
A third party can also obtain the duplicate if they have a power of attorney from the individual or their close relatives. A power of attorney can always be arranged, however, there may be certain complications depending on the current location of the grantor (the child's parents). We assist with obtaining Czech birth certificate duplicates, help prepare the power of attorney, and provide full guidance on where to get it notarized.
While formally called a duplicate, the document is identical to the original birth certificate in every way – the only difference is the updated issuance date.
Czech Civil Registry Office documentsHow do I apostille a birth certificate from the Czech Republic?
An apostille can be placed on a Czech birth certificate, but this must be done only within the Czech Republic. No authorized bodies outside the country, including consulates, can place an apostille. The certificate must be physically brought to the country, where someone must handle the apostille process through all required government offices.
The apostille is issued by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically their Prague office. In addition, before submitting to the Ministry, the document must first be certified with a special stamp by the regional or municipal administration where the document was originally issued. Without this step, the Ministry will not proceed with the final apostille.
The apostille process itself is relatively quick, typically taking 1-3 business days. In our experience, the most time-consuming aspect is delivering the document to the country.
No power of attorney from parents or relatives is required for the apostille – any third party can handle this for you if you possess the document in any form. The 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 individuals born in the Czech Republic many years ago can be challenging. While it is difficult to specify an exact year, we have found that birth certificates for those born before approximately 1950 are particularly problematic to get. However, if you are facing such a situation, feel free to contact us and we will explore possible solutions for your case.