What Is An ‘Apostille’, and How Can We Help You Obtain One?

An “apostille” is a form of authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of 1961.

If the country of intended use does not participate in the Hague Convention, documents being sent to that country can be “authenticated” or “certified”. In both cases, the apostille or authentication validates the seal and signature of the notary so that it can be accepted in a foreign country.

An apostille is issued by the Office of the Secretary of State. Types of documents include corporate documents such as company bylaws and articles of incorporation, power of attorney, diplomas, transcripts, letters relating to degrees, marital status, references and job certifications, home studies, deeds of assignments, distributorship agreements, papers for adoption purposes, etc.

Documents for use in ‘non-Hague’ countries will also require authentication by the US Department of State as well as foreign embassy certification. Additionally, federal documents can only be authenticated by the US Department of State

Since the requirements for each type of document and country of destination vary, the process can be a bit complicated, if handled incorrectly the documents may be rejected.

As an Apostille Agent, we can take care of the process for you. We will determine the requirements for your specific documents, assist you in obtaining/notarizing documents where applicable, complete application forms, and submit your documents to the appropriate agencies. You can be assured that we will handle your documents professionally and with confidentiality.

For more information on this service, or to obtain a free estimate, please contact us directly.