Notarization of Signatures, Translations, and Copies

 

I. Notarization at the Consulate 

1. Notarization of Signatures

Personal appearance is required for the notarization of signatures. Requests may be submitted during office hours; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9:30am and 1:30pm.

Please note that due to the high number of clients, the waiting period may be long. There is no rush proceedings at the consulate.

Notarization of signature means that the client signs the document in front of a consular officer, or the client declares to the consular officer that the signature on the document is their own. The consular officer only establishes the veracity of the signature, and not the contents of the document, for which the Consular Office bears no responsibility. The document will have to be drawn up by the client in advance. The Consulate General of Hungary – New York is unable to assist in obtaining, typing, or printing the required documents. Please use a blue ink pen when signing the documents. 

Valid photo-identification is required for the notarization of signatures, such as passports, driver’s license, residence permit cards, etc. In the absence of valid photo-identification, the consulate is unable to process your request. Photocopies of photo-identification documents is insufficient.

The consular fee for notarization of signatures is charged per signature. You can find our most recent fees under the “Consular Fees” section.

If the signature is made on the behalf of a company (or organization), a company extract, not older than 30 days, has to be presented as well.

Notarized/verified documents will be mailed by the consulate within 3 days. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that the procedural time varies depending upon the consulate’s capacity. When submitting a request, the client is informed about the expected time of completion.

Examples for expected cost of notarization of signatures:

1. Two parties are listed on a sales contract, and the notarization of both signatures is needed. In this case, both parties need to pay for their own signatures on the contract. If the contract is needed in four copies, then each copy will have to be paid separately, thus paying the procedural fee a total of eight times.

2. If one document requires multiple signatures from one person (for example, per page), you only have to pay the procedural fee once. 


2. Authentication of a Translation

The consulate accepts authentication of documents, translated from Hungarian to English or English to Hungarian, only if it is relating to consular procedures TO BE USED IN HUNGARY ONLY.

Please note that: based on Section 1/2002 of the Consular Officer's Code of Conduct and Consular Certificate on the Exhibiting Activities of the Consular Officer. (2) of the KÜM-IM decree, the consular officer may refuse to authenticate the translation of documents which are not related to consular procedures and assume specific language skills.

If the client would like to use a translation, that has no relation to a consular matter, in Hungary, then they need inquire with the Hungarian Office for Translation and Attestation for the translation or authentication of a translation.

For the purposes of authenticating a translation, the original text must be submitted together with the translation. You can submit your request in person during office hours, or by mail.  

Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, between 9:30am and 1:30pm.

Authenticated documents will be mailed by the consulate within 3 days. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that the procedural time varies depending upon the consulate’s capacity. When submitting a request, the client is informed about the expected time of completion.

If the request is sent in by mail, the client should include a money order payable to the “Consulate General of Hungary” and a pre-paid self-addressed envelope. When the translation is authenticated, the consular officer will the translated with the original translated document. If the client does not wish for the original document (i.e. certificate, diploma, etc) to be with the translation, please include a copy of the original document. In case the client would like the copy to be authenticated too, please indicate so and ensure that the consular fee is enclosed accordingly (please see: next indent).

If the request is sent in by mail, please include a phone number and an email address. Authenticated documents will be mailed by the consulate within 3 days.

You can find our most recent fees under the “Consular Fees” section.

When submitting the request in person, the client has to show a valid photo ID. When submitting the request via mail, the client has to include a copy of their valid photo ID.

 

3. Certifying a copy, or requesting a certified copy

Certifying a copy: the Consulate authenticates a copy of the original document, presented by the client. You can find the fee for this under the “Consular Fees” section on our website. If submitting via mail, the client must also send the original document.

Requesting a certified copy: the Consulate creates a photocopy of the original document submitted by the client, and authenticates it. You can find the fee for this under the “Consular Fees” section on our website. If submitting via mail, the client must also send the original document.

You can submit your request for certifying a copy in person during office hours, or by mail.  

When submitting a request in person, certified documents will be mailed by the consulate within 3 days. Nevertheless, please keep in mind that the procedural time varies depending upon the consulate’s capacity. When submitting a request, the client is informed about the expected time of completion.

Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, between 9:30am and 1:30pm.

If the request is sent in by mail, the client should include a money order payable to the “Consulate General of Hungary” and a pre-paid self-addressed envelope.

If the request is sent in by mail, please include a phone number and an email address.
Please ensure to also send the original document.

When submitting the request in person, the client has to show a valid photo ID. When submitting the request via mail, the client has to include a copy of their valid photo ID.

 

II. Notarization at an Honorary Consulate

 

Contact details of Honorary Consuls can be found under the "Contact Information / Honorary Consuls" menu item.


1. Notarization of Signatures

Notarization of signature means that the client signs the document in front of an honorary consul, or the client declares to the honorary consul that the signature on the document is their own.

The honorary consul only establishes the veracity of the signature, and not the contents of the document, for which they bear no responsibility. The document will have to be drawn up by the client in advance. The office of an Honorary Consul is unable to assist in obtaining, typing, or printing the required documents. Please use a blue ink pen when signing the documents. 

Please note that honorary consuls can only authenticate signatures of private individuals, not on behalf of a company or other organization. For example, as a managing director, the honorary consul cannot authenticate the client’s signature as a representative of an organization.

Honorary Consuls are authorized at different levels for signature authentication, so please inquire at the given honorary consul before requesting a notarization of signature.

All five honorary consuls may certify the signature of a client on the following documents:

  • if the document is written in English only or
  • if the document is written in Hungarian and English, with
  • Hungarian and English texts are located within the same document, side by side or below each other.
  • If the Hungarian text is on a physically separate document, the Honorary Consul may not authenticate the signature on the Hungarian version.

Valid photo-identification is required for the notarization of signatures, such as passports, driver’s license, residence permit cards, etc. In the absence of valid photo-identification, your request will not be processed. Photocopies of photo-identification documents is insufficient.

The consular fee for notarization of signatures is charged per signature. You can find our most recent fees under the “Consular Fees” section.

2. Authentication of a Translation

Honorary Consuls are not authorized to authenticate translations.

3. Certifying a copy, or requesting a certified copy

Certifying a copy: the honorary consul authenticates a copy of the original document, presented by the client. You can find the fee for this under the “Consular Fees” section on our website. The client must also present the original document.

Requesting a certified copy: the honorary consul creates a photocopy of the original document submitted by the client, and authenticates it. You can find the fee for this under the “Consular Fees” section on our website.

When submitting the request, the client has to show a valid photo ID.