You may need to get documents apostilled if they will be used in a country, foreign embassy or foreign consulate that participates in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. Some of the documents that might need an apostille include official certificates (birth certificates, marriage licenses), court records and court-certified translations of those documents, notary acts, personal papers, patent applications, etc.

To be considered an authenticated public document for use in another country, your document must be signed by a notary public and then certified with an Apostille. This process is streamlined through the 1961 Hague Convention, and makes it easier for those seeking to do business or travel internationally.

Your Guide to Getting Documents Apostilled in the U.S.

If you need to get your documents apostilled in the United States, it’s important to know the guidelines for each state. There are a few differences between the states and how they handle this process. You can either choose to do it yourself or hire a professional service to help you navigate the process.

When you’re ready to start the process, head to your local Secretary of State office to submit your documents for apostille certification. You’ll need to bring the original documents you need authenticated as well as a completed Apostille Application Form. Once you’ve submitted your documents, you’ll need to wait until they are processed. Once that happens, someone will call you to pick up your apostille certificate. It’s important to plan accordingly for this process, as normal processing time is up to three days.

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