What Is an Apostille and How Do You Get One?

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a public document — like a birth certificate, diploma, or power of attorney — for legal use in another country. It's issued by a state authority (usually the Secretary of State) after the document has been notarized, and it's only recognized between countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. If the destination country isn't a member, you'll need a different process called consular legalization instead.

Apostille vs. Notarization: What's the Difference?

Notarization and an apostille solve two different problems. A notary verifies your identity and witnesses your signature — that's a domestic act, valid within the U.S. An apostille goes a step further: it certifies that the notary who signed your document was actually a commissioned notary in good standing, which is what makes the document trustworthy to a foreign government. In practice, most apostille requests start with a notarization and end with the apostille certificate attached on top of it.

How the Apostille Process Works

• Step 1 — Notarize the document. A commissioned notary verifies your identity and witnesses your signature (or certifies a copy, depending on the document type).
• Step 2 — Submit to the state. The notarized document goes to the Secretary of State's office in the state where the notary is commissioned — not necessarily the state you live in.
• Step 3 — Receive the apostille certificate. The Secretary of State attaches the apostille certificate, confirming the notary's commission was valid. This is what the foreign country actually relies on.

Some notaries offer the full process end-to-end — notarizing your document and handling the state submission on your behalf — which saves you a separate trip or mail-in step to the Secretary of State.

Which Countries Accept an Apostille?

Only countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention accept an apostille — as of June 2026, that's 130 contracting parties, per the Hague Conference on Private International Law's official status table. Most major destinations for U.S. document use (UK, most of the EU, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and more) are members. If your destination country isn't on the list, an apostille won't be recognized — you'll need consular legalization instead, a separate multi-step process involving the destination country's embassy or consulate. Always confirm your destination country's current status before starting, since new countries join periodically.

What Documents Commonly Need an Apostille?

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates — for immigration, marriage abroad, or dual citizenship applications
• Educational diplomas and transcripts — for studying or working abroad
• FBI background checks — commonly required for international adoption, work visas, or marriage abroad
• Powers of attorney and business documents — for managing property or conducting business in another country
• Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, for businesses expanding internationally

How Long Does an Apostille Take and What Does It Cost?

Standard apostille processing through a state Secretary of State typically takes 5–15 business days, with expedited processing available in most states for an additional fee. Total cost usually has two parts: the notarization fee (set by state law — see our fee guide below) plus the state's apostille fee, typically $10–$20 per document. Notaries who handle the full process end-to-end — notarization plus the state submission — typically charge $75–$200 including all fees.

Find an Apostille Notary in Your State

Apostille rules for what counts as an acceptable underlying document can vary slightly by state. Find a notary who offers apostille services in your state below.