An Apostille is a stamp or a printed form that confirms the veracity of a legal document that has been certified by a Competent Authority in any country that is a participant in the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The Apostille ensures officials of other countries that the document and the signatures thereon are authentic. An Apostille is comparable to a notarization, but its effect is international while a notarization’s is usually not.
Member nations of the Hague Convention include: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue (Cook Islands), Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.
Personal Documents Typically Requiring an Apostille
Adoption Papers
Birth Certificate
Divorce Decree
Police Records
Affidavits
Car Titles
FBI Background Check
Power of Attorney
University Degrees
Bank Letter
Certificate of Naturalization
Identity Documents Passports
State Background Checks
Eligibility to Marry
Bills of Sale
Death Certificate
Marriage Certificate
School Diploma or Transcript
Business Documents Typically Requiring an Apostille
Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Good Standing
Commercial Invoice
General Agreements
Letter of Invitation
References and Job Certifications
Bylaws
Certificate of Incumbency
FDA Certificate
IRS Form 6166
Patents & Assignments
Trademark
Certificate of Amendment
Certificate of Origin
Free Sale Certificate
ISO Certificate
Pharmaceutical Certificates
USPTO
Please note that the preceding list of documents is representative only. Other documents may require affixing an Apostille as necessary.