An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document so that it can be recognized in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
When a document is notarized or issued in one country but needs to be used in another, the receiving country may require an apostille to verify that the signature, seal, or official capacity of the person who signed the document is genuine.
What Does an Apostille Do?
An apostille does not certify the contents of a document. Instead, it certifies the authenticity of:
A notary public’s signature A government official’s signature An official seal or stamp The authority of the person who executed the document
The apostille serves as an internationally recognized form of authentication among countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention.
Common Documents That May Require an Apostille
Examples include:
- Powers of attorney
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Corporate documents
- Real estate documents
- Court documents
Requirements vary depending on the country and the purpose of the document.
Who Issues an Apostille?
In the United States, apostilles are typically issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was notarized or issued. For certain federal documents, apostilles may be issued by the U.S. Department of State.
If a document has been notarized through Remote Online Notarization (RON), any apostille request is generally submitted to the Secretary of State in the notary’s commissioning state.
How Do I Know If I Need an Apostille?
Whether an apostille is required depends on where the document will be used. Before obtaining a notarization, you should confirm with the receiving agency, attorney, court, employer, or government office whether:
- An apostille is required;
- The destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; and
- Any additional authentication requirements apply.
If the receiving country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, a different process known as legalization may be required instead of an apostille.
Apostille vs. Notarization
A notarization and an apostille serve different purposes:
- A notarization verifies the identity of the signer and the execution of the document.
- An apostille authenticates the notary’s signature or the issuing official’s authority for international use.
In many cases, a document must first be notarized before it can receive an apostille.
Important Note About Apostilles and Remote Online Notarization
Remote Online Notarization (RON) produces an electronic notarized document, not a paper original. While many states have established procedures for issuing apostilles on electronically notarized documents, not all states currently accept electronic documents for apostille processing.
If you intend to obtain an apostille after your remote notarization, it is important to contact the Secretary of State’s office in the notary’s commissioning state before scheduling your notarization session. Confirm both that:
- The state will issue an apostille for the type of electronically notarized document you will receive; and
- The state accepts documents notarized through Remote Online Notarization (RON) for apostille purposes.
Requirements and procedures can vary significantly from state to state and may change over time. Confirming these requirements in advance can help avoid delays, additional expenses, or the need to re-execute documents using a different notarization method.
Ready to go?
Notarize your document online