Apostille Service
If you’re sending documents overseas, you might need an apostille—and yes, it sounds fancy, but it’s really just a way to certify that your paperwork is legit for international use.
Apostille certification can be surprisingly confusing—especially if you're unfamiliar with the process or dealing with tight deadlines. Between figuring out which documents qualify, navigating state requirements, and waiting on approvals, it’s easy for things to get time-consuming fast. Let us handle the guesswork.
What is an Apostille?
An apostille is a special certificate that makes your document valid for use in other countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Established by the 1961 Hague Convention, the apostille system streamlines cross-border document recognition among member countries.
Who issues Apostilles?
State-Issued Documents: Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document originated.
Federal Documents: Apostilles are issued by the U.S. Department of State for federal records like FBI background checks or federal court documents.
When do I need an Apostille?
You’ll need an apostille certification if you’re submitting U.S. documents to a foreign country that recognizes apostilles—often for legal, business, academic, or personal matters.
What’s the difference between notarization and Apostille?
Notarization confirms the identity of the signer. Apostille certifies the document’s authenticity for international use.
📂 Commonly Apostilled/Authenticated Documents
🧑💼 Personal & Vital Records
👶 Birth Certificates
💍 Marriage Certificates
💔 Divorce Decrees
⚰️ Death Certificates
👨👩👧 Adoption Records
📝 Name Change Documents
🏛️ Legal & Court Documents
⚖️ Court Orders
📄 Affidavits
🖊️ Power of Attorney
🧾 Notarized Statements
👨👧 Guardianship Papers
📜 Wills & Probate Documents
🎓 Academic & Educational Records
🎓 Diplomas & Degrees
📚 Transcripts
🏫 Enrollment Verification
🧑🏫 Teaching Credentials
🌍 Foreign Student Records
🏢 Business & Corporate Documents
🏢 Articles of Incorporation
✅ Certificates of Good Standing
📇 Business License
📑 Contracts & Agreements
💡 Trademark or Patent Filings
🌐 Immigration & Travel Documents
🕵️ FBI Background Checks
🛂 Passport Copies (Certified)
🛬 Visa Applications
🗽 Citizenship Certificates
✈️ Travel Consent Letters for Minors
🩺 Medical & Health Documents
📋 Medical Records (with notarized release)
💉 Immunization Records
🧪 Health Clearance Forms
🏠 Property & Financial Documents
🏠 Deeds & Titles
📉 Mortgage Documents
💼 Financial Statements (Notarized) 🇺🇸 IRS Form 6166 (U.S. Residency Certification)
👥 Who Might Need an Apostille
💍 Individuals Getting Married Abroad To validate U.S. marriage or single status documents internationally.
🎓 Students Studying Internationally To certify diplomas, transcripts, or enrollment letters for foreign schools.
🏢 Businesses Expanding Overseas To legalize incorporation papers, contracts, or power of attorney for global operations.
🛂 Immigrants & Visa Applicants To authenticate background checks, birth certificates, or legal documents for immigration.
👨👧 Parents Traveling with Minors To verify travel consent letters required by border authorities.
👶 Adoptive Families To certify adoption records and legal paperwork for international adoption.
⚖️ Legal Professionals & Clients To present notarized affidavits, court orders, or estate documents abroad.
🩺 Medical Professionals Working Abroad To validate credentials, health clearance forms, or immunization records.
What if I have a document that needs to go to a non-Hague country?
If your documents needs to be sent to a country that is not part of the Hague convention you will need a certificate of authentication.