Apostille Services Near Me: What to Know Before You Start

If you need to use a document internationally, you may need an apostille. Here's how the process works and what to prepare.

If you need to use a document internationally, you may be asked to obtain an apostille. Apostille services help prepare, submit, and process documents for international acceptance.

What an apostille is: a certificate used to authenticate certain public documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms the official capacity of the signer, notary, or issuing authority.

Common documents that may need apostille: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, FBI background checks, powers of attorney, diplomas and transcripts, and corporate documents.

Apostille vs notarization: a notarization verifies a signature. An apostille authenticates the official capacity of the signer, notary, or issuing authority for international use. Some private documents must first be notarized before they can be apostilled.

How to find apostille services near you: confirm your document type, identify the issuing state or federal agency, check processing options and turnaround time, and confirm fees up front.

Find notaries and apostille support providers near you on NotaSealPros.