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Apostille basics
New to apostilles? Start here. An apostille is a single certificate that makes a U.S. public document valid in another member country of the Hague Convention. These guides explain what it is, who issues it, and how it differs from authentication, notarization, and embassy legalization — so you send every document down the right path the first time.
- How an Apostille Is Attached to a DocumentAn apostille is a separate certificate a competent authority attaches to your public document. Learn how it's attached and why you must never detach it.
- How to Get an Apostille (Step by Step)Learn how to get an apostille step by step: identify state vs. federal, get the right certified or notarized version, then file with the correct authority.
- What documents need an apostille?What documents need an apostille? A grouped U.S. checklist — vital records, personal, education, federal, and corporate — each mapped to its authority.
- Apostille dos and don'ts: a best-practices checklistApostille dos and don'ts: confirm the receiving authority, use certified copies, keep names consistent, and never laminate or detach a finished apostille.
- State vs. federal apostille: which one do you need?State and federal documents are apostilled by different authorities — and sending one to the wrong office is the top reason apostilles get rejected. Here's how to tell which you need.
- Apostille vs. embassy legalization: which do you need?Whether your document needs an apostille or embassy legalization comes down to one question: is the destination country in the Hague Convention? Here's how to tell.
- Apostille vs. authentication vs. notarization: what's the difference?Notarization, certified copy, authentication, apostille — four terms that get mixed up constantly. Here's what each one means and how they fit together.