Everything you need to know about apostille services, document authentication, and our process
An apostille is an official certificate issued by a designated government authority that authenticates the origin of a public document. It verifies the signature, seal, or stamp on the document, making it legally valid for use in countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961.
Think of it as an international stamp of approval that confirms your document is genuine and can be trusted in over 120 countries worldwide.
You need an apostille when using U.S. documents in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Convention. Common situations include:
Over 120 countries that are members of the Hague Convention accept apostilles. This includes most European countries, many Latin American countries, Australia, and many others.
For countries not part of the Hague Convention (like Canada, UAE, and Vietnam), you'll need embassy legalization instead. We can help with that too! Contact us to discuss your specific destination country.
An apostille is used for countries that are members of the Hague Convention and is a single-step authentication process through the Secretary of State.
Embassy legalization is required for non-Hague Convention countries and involves multiple steps: authentication by the Secretary of State, then by the U.S. Department of State, and finally by the embassy or consulate of the destination country. It's more complex and takes longer, but we can handle the entire process for you.
Processing times vary based on the service level you choose and the state issuing the apostille:
These timeframes begin once we receive your documents and payment. Shipping time is additional.
Contact & Consultation
Reach out to us with your document details and we'll provide guidance and pricing.
Send Your Documents
Mail your original documents or certified copies to our office.
Review & Processing
We verify your documents and submit them to the appropriate authorities.
Apostille Obtained
The Secretary of State or federal agency issues the apostille certificate.
Return Delivery
Your apostilled documents are shipped back via your preferred method.
Yes! We provide regular status updates throughout the process. You'll receive confirmation when we receive your documents, when they're submitted for apostille, when the apostille is obtained, and when they're shipped back to you. For expedited and rush services, we provide even more frequent updates including SMS notifications.
We can apostille virtually any U.S. public document, including:
Personal Documents:
Educational Documents:
Corporate Documents:
Legal Documents:
For most documents, you need either the original document or a certified copy issued by the original issuing authority. Regular photocopies cannot be apostilled.
For documents like diplomas or birth certificates, if you don't have the original, you can order a certified copy from the issuing institution or vital records office. We can also help you obtain certified copies if needed.
It depends on the document type:
We offer notary services if your document needs notarization before apostille. Contact us to discuss your specific document.
Yes, if the document was issued by a U.S. authority, it can be apostilled regardless of language. However, the destination country may require a certified translation along with the apostille.
We offer certified translation services in over 100 languages. The translation can then be notarized and apostilled along with your original document for a complete package.
Pricing varies based on several factors:
We provide transparent, upfront pricing with no hidden fees. Contact us with your specific requirements for a detailed quote.
We accept multiple payment methods for your convenience:
Yes! We offer volume discounts when you need multiple documents apostilled at the same time. The more documents you process together, the more you save. Contact us with your requirements for a bulk pricing quote.
Our comprehensive document review process virtually eliminates rejection risk. We verify every document before submission to ensure it meets all requirements.
In the rare event of a rejection due to our error, we will reprocess your documents at no additional charge. Government fees are non-refundable, but our service fees are covered if the rejection was our mistake. This is why our pre-submission verification is so important—we catch issues before they become costly problems.
We specialize in rush apostille services! We understand that urgent situations arise—visa interviews, job offers, or wedding deadlines that can't be postponed.
Call us immediately at (208) 432-7508 to discuss your timeline. We've successfully handled hundreds of last-minute requests and can often find solutions even in extremely tight timeframes.
In certain circumstances, yes! Same-day and next-day apostille services are available for:
Contact us immediately with your specific situation. We'll assess whether your timeline is achievable and provide honest guidance about what's possible. Federal documents (like FBI background checks) typically cannot be processed same-day due to government processing requirements.
FBI background checks are federal documents, which means they follow a different apostille process than state documents:
We handle the entire federal apostille process, coordinating timing to ensure your FBI background check doesn't expire during processing. This is critical for work visas, immigration, and international employment. Read our complete FBI apostille guide for more details.
Birth certificates have specific requirements that trip up many people:
Important:
The decorative "hospital certificate" from when you were born CANNOT be apostilled. You need a state-issued certified copy from your birth state's vital records office.
We verify you have the correct type of birth certificate before processing. If you need to order a new certified copy, we can guide you through the process or coordinate on your behalf. Read our birth certificate apostille guide for complete details.
The apostille itself doesn't expire—it's permanent. However, the underlying document may have validity requirements imposed by the receiving country or institution.
Common Validity Requirements:
Always check with your destination country or receiving institution about their specific requirements. An apostilled document from 2 years ago may not be accepted if the country requires recent issuance, even though the apostille itself is valid. We help you plan timing to avoid expiration issues.
This is a critical distinction that causes major delays when people get it wrong:
State Apostilles
Processed by: State Secretary of State
Timeline: 1-7 business days
For documents issued by:
Federal Apostilles
Processed by: U.S. Department of State
Timeline: 4-8 weeks (standard)
For documents issued by:
Sending a federal document to a state office (or vice versa) results in immediate rejection and weeks of wasted time. We determine the correct authority for your specific document and route it properly the first time.
No! While we're based in Greensboro, NC, we serve clients nationwide and internationally:
We process documents from every state and can handle apostilles through any state Secretary of State office or federal agency. Your location doesn't limit which documents we can process—we handle the logistics regardless of where you are.
Document security is our top priority. Here's how to send documents safely:
Recommended Shipping Methods:
Important Tips:
We'll confirm receipt of your documents immediately and provide updates throughout processing. For extremely valuable or time-sensitive documents, we can arrange for courier pickup or hand-delivery services.
Document rejection is rare with our services because we verify everything before submission. However, if rejection occurs:
Our Prevention Approach:
We catch 95%+ of potential rejection issues during our pre-submission review—expired notary seals, incorrect forms, missing signatures, wrong document types, etc. This is why professional service prevents the delays and costs of rejection.
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Our friendly team is here to help you with any questions about apostille services.