If you are planning to travel to another country for work, business or personal reasons, you might be wondering - what is apostille in USA? Obtaining an apostille from the USA enables a federal or state-issued document from the USA to be identified as valid in another country. Let’s explore what an apostille document is and why you should ensure that the right authorities authenticate your documents.

What Does Document Apostille Mean?

An apostille is a legal certificate verifying and validating the signature of a public official on a document issued in the USA for use in another country. The certification process was established in The Hague Convention (1961), abolishing the need for authentication and legalization of multiple foreign public documents.

An apostille attests:

The origin of the document
The legitimacy of the signature of the public official issuing the document
The authenticity of the stamp and seal the document bears

Types of Documents That Require an Apostille

There are two types of documents that require you to obtain an apostille if they need to be used in a country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.

Federally-Issued Documents

Documents issued at the Federal level require an apostille from the USA Department of State in Washington DC. Federally issued documents do not require to be notarized but it is important to keep track of the requirements of the specific country where submitting your document.

State-Issued Documents

Determining the right issuing authority is another crucial aspect of understanding what is apostille in USA for state documents. If you are using any state-issued document in a country participating in the Hague Convention, you can get an apostille from the Secretary of State itself. In such a case, you do not require obtaining an apostille from a federal issuing authority. If the document is being used in a country that is not in the Hague Convention, you will require it to be validated with an authentication certificate from the US Department of State.

It is important to ensure that you obtain an apostille from the right authority. Elsewhere, your documents may be deemed invalid or rejected by the foreign country.

Should You Hire Professional Apostille Services?

Walking through the apostille process can be an intimidating experience. That’s where you need professional apostille services to ensure your documents are lawfully authenticated and validated for use in other countries. Find a trusted authentication and apostille agency that is certified to provide such services.

They have a thorough knowledge of apostille requirements in different jurisdictions and can help you submit your request with the right issuing authority. This enables you to obtain an apostille fast and hassle-free.

Conclusion: What is Apostille in USA?

Obtaining an apostille is crucial to ensure that your public documents issued in the USA are authentic and valid for use in other countries. Whether you want to study or work abroad, set up a business or plan to get married, you would require obtaining an apostille certificate for your documents.

Seek assistance from an experienced service provider like Globeia that can streamline the apostille process and help you get rid of potential headaches.

Written by :

We are a background screening and document verification agency in Toronto. While we cover the Greater Toronto Area for in-person appointments, the bulk of our clientele uses our online services from different countries of the world. Globeia makes it simple and cost-effective for companies and individuals to navigate governmental red tape without breaking the bank.

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