Key takeaways
- An apostille is an official certificate that proves your document is genuine, so another country will accept it.
- It works between the 120+ countries that signed the 1961 Hague Convention.
- It verifies the signature and seal - not the content of your document.
- In Florida, the state issues it. We prepare and process it for you.
The short answer
An apostille is a certificate attached to your document that proves it is real. When you need to use a U.S. document in another country - a birth certificate, a diploma, a power of attorney - that country wants proof the document is genuine. An apostille is that proof, in a form they already recognize.
Why apostilles exist
Before 1961, getting a document accepted abroad meant a long chain of stamps from several offices and embassies. It was slow and confusing. So dozens of countries signed an agreement - the Hague Convention - to replace that whole chain with one simple certificate: the apostille.
Today, more than 120 countries accept apostilles. If the country you are dealing with is one of them, a single apostille is usually all you need.
What an apostille does - and doesn't do
An apostille confirms three things: that the signature on your document is real, that the person who signed had the authority to do so, and that any seal or stamp is genuine.
It does not check whether the information inside your document is correct, and it is not a translation. If the destination country needs the document in another language, that is a separate step you may need to arrange.
When do you need an apostille?
You usually need one when an official body in another country asks for your U.S. document. Common reasons include:
- Getting married abroad
- Applying for a work visa or residency
- Claiming dual citizenship
- Studying at a foreign university
- Doing business or opening a company overseas
- International adoption
How the process works in Florida
In Florida, the Department of State issues apostilles. The basic path is: make sure your document is in the right form (some need to be notarized or issued as a certified copy first), submit it to the state with the fee, and the state attaches the apostille. That is the part we handle for you - you order online, mail us your document, and we prepare it, submit it, and send it back.
Which documents can be apostilled?
Most documents issued or notarized in the U.S. can be apostilled - certificates, diplomas, FBI background checks, powers of attorney, and business records, among others. See the full list of documents.
Avoiding delays
Most delays come from a small problem on the document itself - a missing notarization, an old certificate, or the wrong type of copy. That is why we check your document for free before you mail it, so you do not lose weeks to a rejection.
Ready to get started?
Order online in minutes — or send us your document for a free check first.