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Further Questions?

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a documentary device by which a government department authenticates a document as genuine. Once it is documented as genuine, pursuant to the Hague Convention of 1961 (an intergovernmental convention), the document is "legalized" for use in another member country.
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What is the Hague Convention?

The Hague Convention is an intergovernmental convention that established a simplified system to allow documents originating in one member country to be easily recognized as authentic in another member country. This authentication is in the form of an Apostille.
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When is an Apostille used?

The simplicity and lack of ambiguity associated with Apostilles has led to the Apostille becoming a favored form of validation of documents worldwide, even in countries that are not actually signatories to The Hague Convention. An Apostille certificate can be obtained for virtually any public document. The following is a non-exhaustive list of documents that can be issued with an Apostille certificate:

  • Certificates of Incorporation and other corporate documents
  • Certificates of Good Standing and Certificates of Existence
  • Adoption Certificates
  • Affidavits
  • Agreements & Mandates
  • Awards & Degrees
  • Baptism & Confirmation Certificates
  • Bills of Sale & Proof of Ownership
  • Birth Certificates
  • Confirmation Judgments & Edicts
  • Death Certificates
  • Deeds
  • Diplomas & Transcripts
  • Executor of Will
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Notary Oaths
  • National Identification Certificates
  • Passports
  • Permits
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Wills

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When is an Apostille effective?

Once a document has been Apostilled, thereby providing official government authentication of the signatures and stamps appearing on it, it is automatically deemed "legalized" for use in another member country. An Apostille is effective upon the date it is issued. An Apostille cannot be "back-dated."
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What are the elements of an Apostille?

An Apostille consists of the following:

  1. the name of country from which the document emanates;
  2. the name of person signing the document;
  3. the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted;
  4. in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority which has affixed the seal or stamp;
  5. the place of certification;
  6. the date of certification;
  7. the authority issuing the certificate;
  8. the seal or stamp of authority issuing certificate; and
  9. the signature of authority issuing certificate.

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Which countries recognize Apostille certificates?

There are currently over 60 member states of the Hague Convention. In addition to those countries which are members of the Hague Convention many other countries will also recognize an Apostille certificate. We recommend you confirm with the entity to which you intend to present the Apostille certificate as to whether the Apostille certificate meets that entity's requirements.
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