Guide

How to get an apostille. Step by step instructions

May 31, 2019

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min.

First I want to explain what is apostille

In international law, legalization is the process of authenticating or certifying a legal document to a foreign country's legal system will recognize it as with full legal effect. Basic notarization is valid in the United States boundaries, you need an apostille to make it legal and recognized in a foreign country.

There are 2 ways how to obtain the apostille. And it depends on what country is it for. There are 117 countries which are part of apostille convention. The list of which you can find it here

A. Apostille instructions for documents which is part of Apostille convention.

1) You need to notarize the document. Find the closest notary public to you. Most of the banks and The UPS store provide notary services. The price for the notary at the UPS store somewhere between $2-15 depends on the where you will perform the notary and most of the banks provide free notary services. Don’t forget you will need to provide unexpired photo identification to the notary public in order to a notary public to able to notarize the document

2) Identify where the notary public was commissioned. You can find this information on the seal or stamp after notary adds it on your document. Make sure notary will place a correct jurat on the document such as acknowledgment or certified copies jurats. Most of the notaries should know what to place on the document if you don’t have. If there are no correct jurats on the document circuit court (3rd step) will not accept and will not place authentication on your document.

3) After you find out where your notary public was commissioned you will need to go to the circuit court or notary public section (Washington DC) where the notary public was commissioned. The will place an authentication certifying that the particular notary public was commissioned and official notary for the county/city. Usually, the cost for authentication is between $1-15 depends on the county.

4) The last step You will need to go to the Secretary of State or Secretary of Commonwealth of your state in order to obtain the apostille. Make sure you know the hours and regulations of your state before you go. You can find this information by calling or visit their website. You can mail your documents with money order or check and instructions where you can find on the website. Under Instructions should be the country where you need an apostille for. the fastest option to visit the Secretary person, make sure you check the hour's operations and if you have more than 10 documents. They probably will ask you to pick it up on the next business day. Most of them have short hours of operation. The most common price for the apostille in secretary varies between $2 - $15 depends on the State.

B. Apostille instructions for documents which are not part Apostille convention

1) You need to perform steps from 1-4, but they will provide the authentication/certificate and not apostille. For Washington DC you need to perform step 1-3.

2) Obtain an apostille from the State Department in Washington DC

You have 2 options :

By mail

Reminders:

● Check if an authentication certificate or an apostille is needed.

● Plan ahead. The average processing time for mail-in requests is approximately 12 business days from the date of receipt by the Office of Authentications.

● Review the certification requirements for each of your document(s).

What to include when you request authentications by mail:

● A completed Request of Authentications Service DS-4194 form – specify the document’s country of use in Section 4

● The document(s) requiring authentication services

● Fees

● One self-addressed, prepaid envelope for return of your document (don't include FedEx)

Mail your packet to the following address:

Office of Authentications

U.S. Department of State

CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT

44132 Mercure Circle

P.O. Box 1206

Sterling, VA 20166-1206

Note:

● We recommend using trackable mail from USPS. You'll receive an update when your mail has reached our mail distribution center but not our physical office location.

In person by appointment

Hours: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday (except federal holidays)

● To schedule an appointment, call 202-485-8000.

● We do not accept walk-in appointments. Appointments are for urgent cases only.

Criteria for urgent cases:

● Life-or-death situations which include: serious illness, injury, or death of a family member.

● Proof of international travel within 48 hours.

Bring the following items to your appointment:

● A completed Request of Authentications Service DS-4194 form – specify the document’s country of use in Section 4

● The document(s) requiring authentication services

● Fees

● Documentation of emergency and proof of international travel

Note:

● Third parties may schedule an appointment but we will only offer the next available appointments to customers submitting their own documents in-person.