Legally, a document issued in Nidwalden falls under State Chancellery in Stans. In practice our standard route frees you from that counter: a notarized certified copy is made from your upload and the apostille goes on it — a copy suffices, whatever the canton. The original only enters the picture if your destination expressly requires the apostille on the original.
Order an apostille →Upload a PDF or photo; a notary establishes the certified true copy (included) and that copy receives the apostille — processed through our Vaud office. Nothing to post, and identical turnaround whether the document comes from Nidwalden or anywhere else.
Some authorities insist the apostille sit on the original issued in Nidwalden: we then file with State Chancellery in Stans. Send us the original by registered mail after ordering (address confirmed by e-mail) — it comes back apostilled.
Criminal records and other federal documents belong to the Federal Chancellery in Berne, not to Stans. Tick «federal document» in the form — we route it.
Documents issued in the canton of Nidwalden come in German. That is exactly what Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein want, and no translation is needed for them. For France, Italy, Spain, Latin America or most of the Middle East, a certified translation will almost certainly be required on top of the apostille — plan for it from the start rather than discovering it after the file is refused.
Nidwalden and Obwalden are two distinct cantons, not two halves of one administration, and each has its own chancellery — Stans here, Sarnen there. Documents from the region get sent to the wrong one often enough that it is worth a second look at the letterhead before ordering.