WHAT IS APOSTILLE?

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WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?

Apostille (pronounced “ah-po-steel”), a French word for Certification, is a form of authentication given to documents being used in a foreign country that participates in the Hague Convention of 1961. The objective for using an Apostille is to establish a simplified system. The Apostille is formatted with a numbered field that allows data to be understood by the receiving country regardless of the official language of the issuing country.
USA Apostille Sample
Mexican Apostilla Sample

WHAT IS AN AUTHENTICATION?

If the country of intended use isn’t a member of the Hague Convention, documents can receive an Authentication certificate from the same Secretary/Department of State instead. An Authentication performs the same duty as an Apostille. Note that unlike Apostilles, which typically require no further legalization, Secretary of State Authentications may require further authentication by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. and possibly even Embassy or Consulate Legalization before being sent overseas.
Authentication Sample

WHAT IS AN EMBASSY LEGALIZATION?

If the country of intended use isn’t a member of the Hague Convention, some documents may require another step in order to obtain Embassy or Consular Legalization. Embassy Legalization (AKA: Embassy Authentication, Embassy Certification, Consular Legalization, Consular Authentication, Consular Certification, Consulate Legalization, Consulate Authentication, Consular Certification) isn’t common but some countries may require you to do so before turning your documents in. Although Consulates, which are smaller versions of Embassies may authenticate or legalize your certified documents, in some cases your documents may only be legalized by the permanent diplomatic mission of the Country’s Embassy located in Washington D.C.

WHAT IS AN EMBASSY LEGALIZATION?

If the country of intended use isn’t a member of the Hague Convention, some documents may require another step in order to obtain Embassy or Consular Legalization. Embassy Legalization (AKA: Embassy Authentication, Embassy Certification, Consular Legalization, Consular Authentication, Consular Certification, Consulate Legalization, Consulate Authentication, Consular Certification) isn’t common but some countries may require you to do so before turning your documents in. Although Consulates, which are smaller versions of Embassies may authenticate or legalize your certified documents, in some cases your documents may only be legalized by the permanent diplomatic mission of the Country’s Embassy located in Washington D.C.

We process Apostille/ Authentication/ Embassy Legalization of American documents to use outside of the United States as well as Apostillas of Mexican documents to use outside of Mexico.  As the premier Apostille- Authentication team, we’ve been taking the hassle out of the process for more than a decade. We’re proud to serve clients worldwide by processing documents from all 50 States of USA, as well as documents required to be processed by Washington D.C.‘s Office of Authentications and/or Embassy of country’s intended use. While we do a majority of our work through the mail, we also offer in-person local services at our downtown San Diego Headquarters. When you choose us, you choose an official and excellent service provider of the Secretary of State to handle your needs. We’ve been doing due diligence for more than a decade, and we want to help you do yours!

List of documents we commonly process:

If the country of intended use isn’t a member of the Hague Convention, some documents may require another step in order to obtain Embassy or Consular Legalization. Embassy Legalization (AKA: Embassy Authentication, Embassy Certification, Consular Legalization, Consular Authentication, Consular Certification, Consulate Legalization, Consulate Authentication, Consular Certification) isn’t common but some countries may require you to do so before turning your documents in. Although Consulates, which are smaller versions of Embassies may authenticate or legalize your certified documents, in some cases your documents may only be legalized by the permanent diplomatic mission of the Country’s Embassy located in Washington D.C.
  • Birth, Marriage, Death, and Divorce Certificates of USA
  • Consular Report of Birth or Death Abroad of USA
  • Divorce Decree, Probate Will, and Judgment Documents
  • School Sealed and Signed Transcripts
  • Academic Diploma, Certificate or Degrees
  • Copy of ID, License, Passport ID page or Vehicle Registration
  • Adoption Documents
  • Powers-of-Attorney and Agreements
  • Deeds, Treaties, Warrants, and Extraditions
  • Certificates of Good Standing
  • Company Articles, Bylaws, and Operating Agreements
  • Copy of Invoices, Receipts, Courier Letters or Bill of Sales
  • Income Verification Affidavits
  • Single Status to Marry (No Record of Marriage)
  • Minor Child Travel Permission/Consent by Parent
  • Copy of any OTHER Personal/Business/Academic Documents
  • FBI Background Check (Department of Justice)
  • U.S. Federal Court Document Check (Department of Justice)
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Check (Department of Justice)
  • Immigration (Naturalization) Certificate (Dept. of Homeland Security)
  • Patent or Trademark Document (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)
  • Animal Health or Animal/Plant Cert (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  • Certificate of Foreign Governments (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
  • Certificate of Pharmaceutical/Export (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Document
  • U.S. Social Security Administration Document
  • U.S. Office of Personnel Management Document
  • OTHER Federal/State/County/City Government Issued Documents

This is just some of our capabilities, so if you have a document outside the list above, feel free to contact us.

Over the years, we’ve cultivated our services to make sure we can keep you covered no matter how complex or urgent your situation may be. By keeping your interests front and center, we’re able to perform better than any other Apostille company available

List of Member Countries of the Hague Convention for Apostilles

The following countries are all members of the Hague Convention and recognize Apostilles. The Apostille certificate will be legally recognized and no further legalization or embassy certification may be required. If the country you intend to present the documents in is not listed here, you may still obtain a State and or Federal Authentication. The Hague Conference currently has 83 Members: 82 States and 1 Regional Economic Integration Organization.
A
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan
B
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso
C
Canada, Chile, China (People’s Republic of), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
D
Denmark
E
Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, European Union
F
Finland, France
G
Georgia, Germany, Greece
H
Hungary
I
Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy
J
Japan, Jordan
K
Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of)
L
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
M
Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco
N
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
P
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal
R
Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation
S
Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland
T
Tunisia, Turkey
U
Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United State of America, Uruguay
V
Venezuela, Viet Nam
Z
Zambia

List of Pending Member Countries of the Hague Convention for Authentication

The following Parties (70) are not Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, but have signed, ratified or acceded to one or more Hague Conventions or are in the process of becoming a Member.
A
Antigua and Barbuda
B
Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi
C
Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Colombia, Cook Islands, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba
D
Dominica, Dominican Republic
E
El Salvador, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
F
Fiji
G
Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana
H
Haiti, Holy See, Honduras
I
Iraq
J
Jamaica
K
Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
L
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein
M
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali. Marshall Islands, Mongolia
N
Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue
O
Oman
P
Pakistan
R
Rwanda
S
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles
T
Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan
U
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Z
Zimbabwe

Authentications for all other Non-Member Countries of the Hague Convention

A
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola
B
Bangladesh, Bhutan
C
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo, Republic of the
D
Djibouti
E
East Timor (Timor-Leste), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia
G
The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau
I
Indonesia, Iran
K
Kiribati, North Korea
L
Laos, Libya
M
Maldives, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma)
N
Nauru, Nigeria
P
Palau, Papua New Guinea
Q
Qatar
S
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria
T
Taiwan, Tanzania, Tuvalu
U
Uganda, United Arab Emirates
V
Vatican City
Z
Yemen

List of U.S. Secretaries of States issuing Apostille and Authentications

A
Alabama – AL, Alaska – AK, Arizona – AZ, Arkansas – AR
C
California – CA, Colorado – CO, Connecticut – CT
D
Delaware – DE
F
Florida – FL
G
Georgia – GA
H
Hawaii – HI
I
Idaho – ID, Illinois – IL, Indiana – IN, Iowa – IA
K
Kansas – KS, Kentucky – KY
L
Louisiana – LA
M
Maine – ME, Maryland – MD, Massachusetts – MA, Michigan – MI, Minnesota – MN, Mississippi – MS, Missouri – MO, Montana – MT
N
Nebraska – NE, Nevada – NV, New Hampshire – NH, New Jersey – NJ, New Mexico – NM, New York – NY, North Carolina – NC, North Dakota – ND
O
Ohio – OH, Oklahoma – OK, Oregon – OR
P
Pennsylvania – PA
R
Rhode Island – RI
S
South Carolina – SC, South Dakota – SD
T
Tennessee – TN, Texas – TX
U
Utah – UT
V
Vermont – VT, Virginia – VA
W
Washington – WA, West Virginia – WV, Wisconsin – WI, Wyoming – WY
Washington D.C.

What Services Does 123 Apostille Provide?

As a premier provider of apostille and authentication services to individuals worldwide, 123 Apostille can help you with your international document certification, verification, and authentication needs.

We are able to process apostilles, authentications, and consulate or embassy legalizations for you. We can also provide top-quality translation services, for your convenience.

Please keep the following important points in mind when you work with us:
  • We can process official documents from any of the 50 U.S. states for an American apostille. We can also process official federal documents originating in Washington, DC.
  • Embassy or consular legalization services are available through us for specific nations.
  • We can process authentications involving the international community in the form of copy certifications by a notary public.
  • Certified translation services are available through us in Spanish and many other languages.
  • In addition, we are able to process the apostilla in Mexico for documents that need to be apostilled in Mexico for use in the United States or another country.
  • We’re also here to help with certifications provided by a notary public.
If you have any questions about any of the services we provide, please do not hesitate to contact us. We understand that it can be confusing when dealing with agencies in other countries, and we want to help you get the correct authorization that you need for your specific case. If you have any questions whatsoever, give us a call and ask away!

The Process That’s Involved

As with most things in life, there is a process that’s involved to getting an apostille. The good news is that we do the hard part for you! All that you, our valued client, need to do is follow these basic steps:
  • Step 1: Fill out our Checkout Form, making sure to provide accurate information to avoid any unnecessary delays. At this time, you will also pay for your order to get the process started.
  • Step 2: Relax and wait for us to complete our part! We have the experience to streamline the process without sacrificing quality or accuracy. We’ll help move things along as quickly and efficiently as possible. In some cases, you will have same-day service. In other cases, it can take 7 or more business days. It all depends on what needs to be done and which organizations we have to interact with.
  • Step 3: Once we’ve completed our thorough and precise work, we come to our clients’ favorite step: you receive your order! We will ship your processed documents overnight to your specified address.
Now you see why we call ourselves 123 Apostille, since the process is as simple as our steps 1, 2, and 3!

Other Things You Should Know About An Apostille

We want to make the process as transparent and clear for you as possible. Here are several additional facts we’d like you to know about an apostille.
  • Always work with a company that is bonded, licensed, and insured and is a member of the Better Business Bureau.
  • Be sure to work with an apostille company that is highly experienced and can provide additional services, such as translations (when needed).
  • Deal with a company that can handle apostille certifications in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, DC.
  • Reputable businesses like 123 Apostille know how to obtain the correct seals that authenticate and validate different types of documents in different countries.
  • Apostille services are affordable!
An apostille can open exciting doors for you in your international dealings and travels! Contact us to learn how we can help you.

Ready To Get Started?

Now that you know a little more about what an apostille is and what’s involved in the certification, authentication, verification, and legalization process, contact 123 Apostille to get started on getting your apostille. We are here to help and guide you every step of the way. Call us today!

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    BELOW ARE JUST A FEW OF THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US:

    • Best Affordable Rates for service, know-how, and overall value
    • Simple quick order questionnaire checkout process
    • Easy Shipping Label provided
    • Quick processing turnaround (1-7 business days)
    • Translation services from Certified official Translators
    • Help in obtaining the proper required and necessary documentation
    • Local Document pickup and Mobile Notary services
    • Question answering by live direct person working your own file

    Whether you’re new to the Apostille process, or you’ve used it for years, the 123 Apostille team is here to help. We’ll have your original documents sealed and officiated so you can move forward with your life!