What Is an Apostille — and Do You Need One?

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 a document so that it will be recognized as valid in another country. Think of it as an internationally accepted stamp of legitimacy for your paperwork.

Apostilles are accepted by all member countries of the Hague Convention of 1961. As of today, over 120 countries participate — including most of Europe, Latin America, the United States, and many others. You can view the full official list of member countries on the Hague Conference website.

Any U.S. public document can be apostilled, provided it carries an official signature or seal. Common examples include birth, marriage, and death certificates; court orders and judgments; powers of attorney; academic diplomas and transcripts; FBI background checks; corporate filings; and notarized agreements.

It depends on the document type. Official government-issued documents (such as birth or marriage certificates issued by a government office) typically do not require prior notarization. However, privately prepared documents — such as powers of attorney, affidavits, or personal statements — usually must be notarized first. We review every document and advise you on exactly what is needed.

Processing times vary depending on which Secretary of State or federal authority handles your document. Some states process apostilles within a few business days; others may take several weeks. We cannot control the government's processing time, but we handle all preparation, submission, and follow-up on your behalf so you don't have to navigate it alone.

An apostille is used when the destination country is a member of the Hague Convention — it is a streamlined, single-step authentication. Document legalization (also called consular legalization) is required when the destination country is not a Hague member. It involves multiple steps: state authentication, U.S. Department of State certification, and then authentication by the destination country's embassy or consulate. Integramerica handles both.

For non-Hague countries, you will need consular legalization instead of an apostille. This is a more involved multi-step process, but we handle it completely — coordinating with the relevant embassy or consulate on your behalf. Contact us and we will advise you on the correct process for your specific country.

Technically, yes — you can contact your state's Secretary of State office directly. However, the process requires knowing exactly which office handles your document type, submitting the correct forms, paying the right fees, and often making in-person visits or navigating mail requirements. Many clients find the time, complexity, and risk of errors make professional handling well worth it, especially for time-sensitive or important documents.

Yes. Once you send us your document and tell us where it is headed, we review it, advise on any pre-steps needed (such as notarization), submit it to the appropriate authority, track its progress, and return the completed apostille to you — by mail, courier, or digitally depending on your situation.

Contact us right away. While we cannot guarantee expedited processing by government offices, we prioritize urgent requests and will advise you on the fastest available path given your document type and destination state. Call or WhatsApp us at (561) 317-9253 for immediate assistance.