Understanding Apostille Legal Requirements
Whether you’re a student, lawyer or business professional who deals internationally, knowing how documents are verified for use abroad can make your international transactions much smoother. An Apostille, based on a 1961 Hague convention, helps verify papers for global transactions by replacing lengthy legalization processes with a standardized certification.
An U.S. federal document apostille service certifies that the signature and stamp or seal on a document is genuine. Apostilles are only needed for documents that were signed in a country that is part of the Hague Convention of 1961 or a country that adopted that treaty later. Check with the receiving government office to find out if you need an apostille for your particular document.
Requirements for Federal Document Apostille Certification
If your document is not from a country that is part of the Hague convention, it may require full legalization by the State Department or your destination country’s embassy or consulate. See the article on Understanding Authentication and Legalization to learn more.
An apostille or authentication certificate is a legal seal that verifies the signature and stamp or seal on an original document that has been certified as genuine by a Notary Public, County Clerk or State official. Authentication is also available for New York birth certificates with a letter of exemplification from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Vital Records Division, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10005. Visit our Pricing Page to see the fees associated with requesting an apostille or authentication certificate from our office. Payment is accepted by cash, check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express).