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In Ireland a certified copy is a photocopy signed by an authorised person who has seen the original. Irish government lists of who may certify typically include a solicitor, a notary public or commissioner for oaths, a peace commissioner and a member of An Garda Síochána, alongside professionals such as doctors, accountants and teachers. The organisation asking for the copy sets its own list, so check theirs first; documents going back to Nigeria usually need a notary instead.
Sooner or later almost every Nigerian in Ireland is asked for a "certified copy": of a passport for a bank, of a degree certificate for an employer, of a birth certificate for a school or a government scheme. The original is too precious to post, so you send a copy that someone trusted has checked against it. This guide explains who can do that in Ireland, what the certifier normally writes, and the cases where a simple certified copy is not enough.
What a certified copy is
An Irish government page on certifying documents (Department of Children, Disability and Equality, last updated April 2024) puts it plainly: a certified copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been signed by an authorised person. The point is that the certifier has seen the original, compared it with the copy and is willing to put their name to that.
There is no single national list of certifiers in Irish law that every organisation must accept. Each department, bank, university or regulator decides whose signature it will take, and usually prints the list on its form or website. That is why the first step is always the same: read the requirements of the body that asked.
Who can usually certify in Ireland
The government page above lists who may witness or certify documents for one State payment scheme. It is a good guide to the kind of person Irish bodies accept:
| Group | People on the government list (2024) |
|---|---|
| Legal | Solicitor; notary public or commissioner for oaths; peace commissioner |
| State | Member of An Garda Síochána; elected public representative; head of prison service or prison warden |
| Finance | Accountant; bank manager or assistant bank manager; credit union manager or assistant manager |
| Health | Medical doctor; dentist; nurse; pharmacist; physiotherapist; speech therapist; registered counsellor; social worker; vet |
| Other | Teacher; lecturer; chartered engineer; member of the clergy |
Other bodies use shorter lists. Some accept only a solicitor, a commissioner for oaths or a Garda; others insist on a notary. A Garda station can be the cheapest route where a Garda signature is accepted, but stations can decline, so ring ahead. Solicitors and commissioners for oaths generally charge a small fee per document; notaries charge for their time, and the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland publishes no fee scale.
What the certifier normally writes
The government page does not prescribe wording. In practice most forms ask for each page to carry a line such as "I certify that this is a true copy of the original document seen by me", followed by the certifier's signature, printed name, profession or office, address or official stamp, a contact phone number and the date. If the form you were given has its own wording, use that exactly.
Nigerian documents: what to bring
Take the original Nigerian document itself, not a scan or a copy of a copy. A few points specific to Nigerian papers:
- Passport: copy the data page and any page the body asks for. Certifiers compare the photo with you, so go in person.
- Birth certificate: the US State Department's civil documents guide for Nigeria notes that the National Population Commission issues a Certificate of Birth and does not issue certified copies, so the certified copy has to be made from the original you hold. See getting an NPC birth certificate while living in Ireland.
- Degree and transcripts: many Irish employers and colleges want certified copies plus a NARIC Ireland comparability statement; see degree recognition via QQI.
- Marriage certificate: bring the original registry or court document; a church programme or invitation card is not a certificate.
Documents not in English
For immigration applications, Ireland's Immigration Service Delivery says any document not in English or Irish must come with a full translation that carries the translator's confirmation of accuracy, the date, the translator's full name, signature and contact details. For documents issued by a state outside the EEA, it also asks for the original to be attested or apostilled by that state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (page updated September 2026). Nigeria is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so for Nigerian documents this means attestation in Nigeria, not an apostille.
When a certified copy is not enough
A certified copy proves that a copy matches the original. It does not prove that the original is genuine, and it does not make an Irish document usable in Nigeria. Two cases come up often:
- Irish immigration: the body may want the original Nigerian document attested by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja before you rely on it, as described above.
- Documents going to Nigeria: a Nigerian bank, court or agency will usually want a notarised copy, then legalisation through the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin. See using an Irish notary for Nigerian documents and legalising an Irish document for Nigeria.
What to check first
- Read the requesting body's list of accepted certifiers and any required wording.
- Check whether they want a simple certified copy, a notarised copy, or the original attested in Nigeria.
- Copy every page they need, single-sided, and keep the originals in order.
- Book or ring ahead: a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, notary or Garda station.
- Ask what the certifier charges per page or per document before they start.
Where Pryme fits
If you are paying a Nigerian registry or agent for certified or attested documents, a Pryme account holds euro and naira side by side and Swap converts only when you choose (multicurrency account). For your own financial records, a verifiable statement or receipt from Pryme, generated with VerifyDoc.ai, lets the recipient check it is genuine and unaltered (receipts and statements).
Questions people ask
Can a Garda certify a copy of my Nigerian passport in Ireland?
Members of An Garda Síochána appear on Irish government lists of people who can certify documents, but each organisation sets its own list and a station may decline. Check the requesting body's form and ring the station first.
Can a solicitor certify copies of Nigerian documents?
Yes, solicitors are accepted by most Irish bodies. They usually charge a fee per document. Bring the original so they can compare it with the copy.
Is a certified copy the same as a notarised copy?
No. A certified copy is signed by an authorised person who has seen the original. A notarised copy is a notarial act by a notary public and is the usual starting point for documents used abroad, including in Nigeria.
Does the NPC issue certified copies of birth certificates?
The US State Department's civil documents guide for Nigeria says the National Population Commission does not issue certified copies, so a certified copy must be made from the original certificate you hold.
Sources
- gov.ie: Certification of documents (Department of Children, Disability and Equality, updated 30 Apr 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- Immigration Service Delivery: Join family visa (updated 11 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland: Fees · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State: Nigeria reciprocity and civil documents · accessed Oct 2026
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