Can I apostille documents from any state?

No. Documents must be apostilled by the state where they were issued. A birth certificate from Texas must be apostilled by Texas, even if you live in California.

Do apostilles expire?

Apostilles themselves don't expire, but receiving countries may require them to be recent. Common requirements are 3-6 months from issue date, so check your destination's specific rules.

What if my destination country isn't part of the Hague Convention?

You need embassy legalization instead. This involves getting documents notarized, then authenticated by your state, then by the U.S. State Department, then by the destination country's embassy—a much longer process.

Can I apostille documents while abroad?

No. Apostilles must be obtained from U.S. authorities while the documents are physically in the United States. Plan ahead or have a trusted person handle this for you.

Are digital apostilles accepted?

Very few countries accept digital apostilles yet. Assume you need physical apostilled documents unless your destination specifically states otherwise.

How to Apostille Documents for International Use

An apostille is an official certificate that validates documents for use in countries that signed the Hague Convention. Get apostilles from your state's Secretary of State office for state documents, or the U.S. State Department for federal documents. The process takes 1-3 weeks and costs $8-25 per document.

Determine if you need an apostille. Check if your destination country is part of the Hague Convention (116+ countries including most of Europe, Asia, and the Americas). If not, you need embassy legalization instead. Verify which documents your destination requires apostilled—common ones include birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, and FBI background checks.
Get certified copies of your documents. You cannot apostille photocopies. For vital records (birth, death, marriage), order certified copies from the state where the event occurred. For diplomas, contact your school's registrar. For FBI background checks, apply through the FBI's website—this takes 12-16 weeks, so start early.
Identify the correct apostille authority. State documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, notarized documents) go to your state's Secretary of State office. Federal documents (FBI background checks, federal agency documents) go to the U.S. State Department's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
Submit your apostille application. For state apostilles: Mail documents with completed application form and fee to your Secretary of State office. For federal apostilles: Mail to U.S. State Department with DS-4194 form and $8 fee per document. Include a prepaid return envelope. Some states offer expedited service for additional fees.
Track and receive your apostilled documents. State apostilles typically take 1-2 weeks, federal apostilles take 2-3 weeks. The apostille is a separate certificate attached to your document—do not separate them. Make photocopies for your records before traveling, but only the original apostilled document is valid abroad.

Can I apostille documents from any state?: No. Documents must be apostilled by the state where they were issued. A birth certificate from Texas must be apostilled by Texas, even if you live in California.
Do apostilles expire?: Apostilles themselves don't expire, but receiving countries may require them to be recent. Common requirements are 3-6 months from issue date, so check your destination's specific rules.
What if my destination country isn't part of the Hague Convention?: You need embassy legalization instead. This involves getting documents notarized, then authenticated by your state, then by the U.S. State Department, then by the destination country's embassy—a much longer process.
Can I apostille documents while abroad?: No. Apostilles must be obtained from U.S. authorities while the documents are physically in the United States. Plan ahead or have a trusted person handle this for you.
Are digital apostilles accepted?: Very few countries accept digital apostilles yet. Assume you need physical apostilled documents unless your destination specifically states otherwise.