Apostille Your Documents for International Travel
An apostille is a specific certificate that authenticates the seal and signature of a public official on a document for use in countries that are party to the Hague Convention. You must obtain this from the Secretary of State (or equivalent government body) in the state or country where the document was originally issued.
- Budget
- 50 dollars (average total cost per document)
- Duration
- 10-20 business days (processing time)
- Best Time
- As soon as you receive your official documents
- Visa Required
- Depends - An apostille is often required to support a long-term visa or residence permit application.
Step by step
Verify the destination's requirements
Confirm the country you are visiting is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention. If they are not, you will need a 'legalization' or 'consular authentication' process instead of an apostille.
Get a certified copy
Ensure your document (birth certificate, marriage license, etc.) is a certified copy with an official seal and signature from the relevant vital records office. Photocopies are not accepted.
Notarize if necessary
For non-government documents like diplomas or affidavits, have the document signed in the presence of a notary public. Ensure the notary uses correct state-specific wording for the acknowledgement.
Submit to the Secretary of State
Send your original certified documents to the Secretary of State's office in the state where the document was issued. Include the required processing fee, the destination country, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.
Check for Federal requirements
If the document was issued by a federal agency (e.g., FBI background check or Certificate of Naturalization), you must submit it to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., not your state office.
Questions people ask
Does my apostille expire?
The apostille itself does not have an expiration date, but many countries require that the underlying document (like a background check) be no older than 3 or 6 months at the time of submission.
Can I get a digital apostille?
Some states offer e-apostilles for specific electronic documents, but most countries currently require physical, wet-ink apostilles on paper documents.
- Fed Fee
- 20 dollars per document
- Shipping
- 15-30 dollars for priority mailing
- State Fee
- 10-20 dollars per document
Packing
- Plastic document sleeves to prevent bending or water damage
- Extra copies of your original documents for your own records
- Pre-paid priority return shipping envelope