Getting your business ready to operate internationally requires understanding the nuances of the apostille and authentication process. One wrong step can lead to a delay or even rejection of your documents.

An apostille legalization of U.S. documents the authenticity of public documents for use in a foreign jurisdiction. It confirms that the document is original and was signed in its country of origin by a competent authority (e.g., a secretary of state). The apostille is attached to the original document or to a certified copy. It contains a unique certificate number and includes a facsimile of the official seal. A list of Competent Authorities is available from the Hague Convention website.

The decision to get a document apostilled depends on whether the document is being used in a country that participates in the Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents or in a country that does not. In the latter case, the document must undergo a more involved and cumbersome legalization process.

Requirements for Federal Document Apostille Certification

Authentication and apostille are two ways of verifying the signatures, stamps or seals on important documents such as court orders, contracts, educational diplomas, birth certificates and more. It is essential to determine the correct process for each document, as using an apostille on a non-Hague Convention country can result in the document being rejected by the foreign government.

It is also a good idea to check to see whether the foreign country you are working with has any additional requirements, such as the need for translation. This will help you avoid the costly mistake of having to re-get a document apostilled after it is already legalized for use in another country.