Can I still get documents notarised remotely or by video call in Ireland?

No. In Ireland, notarisation requires the physical presence of the person before the notary public. While some jurisdictions introduced remote online notarisation during COVID-19, Irish law has not adopted this approach. You must attend in person at the notary's office for all notarial acts.

Has the apostille process changed since COVID?

The Department of Foreign Affairs now accepts apostille applications by post, which was introduced during COVID restrictions. This postal option has been retained as a permanent change. You can also apply in person at the Dublin office. The apostille fee remains €40 per document.

Are embassies and consulates back to normal operations for document legalisation?

Most embassies and consulates in Ireland have returned to normal operations, though many have retained appointment-based systems rather than walk-in services. Processing times may still be longer than pre-COVID levels for some countries. It is advisable to check directly with the relevant embassy for current requirements and timelines.

Did COVID change how long notarised documents remain valid?

COVID did not change the fundamental validity periods of notarised documents, though some receiving institutions temporarily extended acceptance periods during the pandemic. Most institutions have reverted to their standard requirements. Generally, notarised documents should be as recent as possible — many institutions require documents notarised within the preceding three to six months.

COVID-Era Document Changes — What's Stayed and What's Reverted

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted almost every aspect of legal and administrative services in Ireland. Document notarisation, apostille processing, embassy legalisation, and government record-keeping all underwent rapid changes between March 2020 and the gradual reopening through 2021 and 2022. Now, several years on, it is worth examining which of those changes have become permanent features of the system and which have reverted to pre-pandemic norms.

Notarisation: In-Person Requirement Remains

One of the most significant questions during the pandemic was whether Ireland would follow jurisdictions like certain US states in permitting remote online notarisation (RON) — where the notary and the client connect via video call rather than meeting in person.

Ireland did not adopt remote online notarisation. The requirement for physical presence before the notary public remains firmly in place. This reflects the fundamental nature of notarisation under Irish law: the notary must satisfy themselves of the identity of the person, their capacity, and their understanding of the document they are signing. These assessments are considered best made in person.

During the strictest lockdown periods, notarisation appointments were still possible as an essential service, though with additional safety protocols:

Perspex screens between notary and client
Mask-wearing requirements
Individual appointments with cleaning between clients
Some notaries offered car park or doorstep notarisation for vulnerable clients

All of these COVID-specific protocols have since been removed, and notarisation appointments operate as they did before the pandemic.

Apostille Processing: Postal Applications Retained

Before the pandemic, obtaining an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs typically required an in-person visit to their office in Dublin. During COVID, the Department introduced a postal application system.

This change has been retained as a permanent option. You can now submit documents for apostille by post, which is particularly beneficial for people outside Dublin — including those in Cork. The process involves:

Sending the notarised document to the Department of Foreign Affairs
Including the €40 fee per document (by bank draft or postal order)
Receiving the apostilled document back by registered post

Processing times by post are typically 5–10 working days, compared to same-day or next-day for in-person applications. For urgent matters, in-person applications at the Dublin office remain available.

Government Records and Certificates

The General Register Office (GRO), which issues birth, marriage, and death certificates, moved to an online application system during COVID. This online system has been retained and expanded:

Certificates can be ordered online through the HSE website
Payment is accepted electronically
Certificates are posted directly to the applicant

However, processing times for certificates have not fully recovered to pre-COVID levels. During peak periods, waits of several weeks are common, which can affect clients who need certified copies of certificates for notarisation purposes.

Embassy and Consulate Services

Foreign embassies and consulates in Ireland each set their own policies, and the COVID response varied significantly:

Appointment systems — Many embassies that previously accepted walk-in applications have permanently moved to appointment-only systems
Document submission — Some embassies now accept documents by post or courier, whereas before COVID they required in-person submission
Processing times — While most have improved from the worst of the pandemic backlogs, some remain longer than pre-COVID norms
Electronic communication — More embassies now accept enquiries and initial applications by email

Digital Signatures and Electronic Documents

The pandemic accelerated the use of electronic signatures in commercial transactions. Under the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 and the EU eIDAS Regulation, electronic signatures have legal validity in Ireland for many types of documents. However:

Electronic signatures cannot replace notarisation for documents that require a notarial act
Documents requiring a seal — including many notarial certificates — must still bear a physical seal
Foreign institutions may not accept electronically signed documents even where Irish law would recognise them

The increased comfort with digital processes has, however, streamlined the preparation stage. Many clients now submit draft documents electronically for review before attending in person for notarisation.

Garda Vetting and Police Clearance

The National Vetting Bureau moved to an electronic application system during COVID, which has been retained. Garda vetting applications are now processed electronically, with results issued digitally. For notarisation purposes, the electronic vetting disclosure can be printed and notarised in the same way as the previously issued paper certificates.

For police clearance certificates for use abroad — which are different from standard Garda vetting — the application process through An Garda Síochána has also been modernised, with more of the process handled electronically.

What This Means for You

If you need notarisation services in Cork in 2025, the practical position is:

You must attend in person — no remote or video-call notarisation in Ireland
Apostille by post is available — saving a trip to Dublin
Allow extra time — some government and embassy processing times remain longer than pre-COVID
Prepare documents digitally first — email drafts for review before your appointment
Check embassy requirements — procedures may have changed since you last used an embassy service

Contact Hugh Phelan

Hugh Phelan, Solicitor and Notary Public in Douglas, Cork, provides notarisation services with efficient appointment scheduling. Appointed by the Chief Justice of Ireland and holding a BCL from UCC and a Diploma in Notarial Law, Hugh can advise on current document requirements and help you navigate the post-COVID landscape.

Contact us at 021-489-7134 or info@phelansolicitors.com, or book an appointment online.