If you plan to use a document in a foreign country, the apostille service provides additional certification of the signatures in the document. This simplifies the process required by the foreign government for recognition of the document. The apostille certificate is a declaration that the document has been authenticated and certified by officials in your state.

If the document you plan to use in a foreign country is a public document, the apostille may be needed in order for that foreign government to recognize the document in the same way that it would if the document had been originally issued in that foreign country. Countries that are parties to the Hague Convention of 1961 have agreed to simplify the process of legalizing documents for international use.

Choosing the Right Document Apostille Service Provider

Document apostille service is an authentication of a public document that certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signed, and the seal or stamp that appears on the document. The apostille is an internationally recognized form of proof, valid in all states that are parties to the Apostille Convention.

To obtain an apostille, your original public document must be signed by a notary public or a certified copy of a public record. Documents such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, diplomas, and divorce decrees are typically public documents that require an apostille to be recognized in a foreign country.

You can submit your documents to the GSCCCA by mail for apostille processing, eliminating the need to write company or personal checks or provide couriers with cash. Please see the Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form in Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous for submission instructions and requirements.