International · 8 min read
Apostille Services Explained: Sending Documents Abroad
When a notarization isn't enough: how apostilles authenticate U.S. documents for use in Hague Convention countries.
An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated state authority — usually the Secretary of State — that authenticates the seal and signature of a public official on a document, including a notary public. It is required by the 1961 Hague Convention to make a U.S. document legally recognized in another member country.
Common apostille documents include birth certificates, marriage licenses, FBI background checks, power of attorney, corporate filings, and academic transcripts.
The order of operations matters: notarize first, then apostille. Federal documents (FBI checks, IRS forms) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not the Secretary of State.