How To Get an Apostille
If you plan to engage in international business, it’s highly likely you’ll need an apostille certificate. Check out the guide below to learn what apostilles are and how to get one.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued to authenticate a document transferred between countries, such as a corporate charter or articles of organization.
While an apostille doesn’t guarantee that the information in the document is correct, it confirms that the document meets certain validation standards. For instance, an apostille might confirm that a document is on file with the state or that the notarization is authentic.
Learn how to get an apostille in your state.
Apostilles Vs Authentication Certificates
Apostilles can only be used for documents transferred between specific countries—those that have signed the Apostille Treaty (also know as the Hague Convention Treaty of 1961). Over a hundred countries are signatories, including the United States, Australia, India, Japan and the majority of South American and European countries.
However, there are many non-signatory countries, including major US trading partners, such as Canada and China. Documents transferred between non-signatory countries require a different authentication process. Instead of a single authentication, the document must be certified by appropriate agencies in both the country of origin and the recipient country. These certifications are not called apostilles and are usually referred to more generally as “authentication certificates.”
When Do I Need an Apostille Certificate?
If you’re doing any of the following in a foreign country, you’re likely to need an apostille:
- Applying for a job
- Adopting a child
- Participating in a legal dispute
- Engaging in business operations
These are only some of the cases in which you’d need an apostille. Many documents can be authenticated with an apostille, including birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, school transcripts or degrees, and court documents (such as warrants or powers of attorney). For businesses, common documents that may need an apostille are certificates of good standing and formation documents, such as Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization.
Who Issues Apostilles in the US?
Apostilles are usually issued by the agency that issued the original document. If your document was issued federally, the apostille will be issued by the US Department of State. Most documents relevant to business owners, however, are issued by a state agency.
For business documents, the issuing agency is typically your Secretary of State office. However, this isn’t true across all states. For example, in Georgia, the Superior Court Clerk’s Cooperative Authority issues apostilles.
How to Get an Apostille for a Business Document
To get an apostille for a business document, you’ll typically need an original or certified copy of the document you wish to authenticate. You’ll then need to submit a request for an apostille to the appropriate issuing agency. Many agencies provide an order form you can fill out on their website. If not, note that at minimum, you’ll need to provide your company’s name, the document to be authenticated, and the country that will receive the apostille. Most states also charge a fee, which can range from $2 to $40 depending on the state.
Need more information? Select your state from the dropdown menu above to see the requirements in your state.
Let Us Handle the Paperwork
Want us to obtain your apostille? Just create a free account with Northwest and order Apostille Service in your client portal.