Apostille for Government-Issued Documents

It is the official certification that authenticates the signature, capacity, and seal on a U.S. government-issued record for international use in Hague Convention countries. It covers both state and local records — processed through the relevant Secretary of State — and eligible federal documents processed through the U.S. Department of State. An apostille authenticates the document's official signature; it does not certify content, confirm compliance, or guarantee acceptance by any specific authority.

State and local vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates, divorce decrees, court judgments), eligible federal documents such as official FDA, USDA, and USPTO certificates, corporate records, business licenses, and other state or federal certifications, in addition to personal records. Eligibility depends on the document format, issuing authority, and whether the document bears an official signature and seal. Contact us to confirm whether your specific document qualifies.

Yes. Eligible federal documents — including those from the U.S. Department of State and federal agencies such as FDA, USDA, and USPTO — may be apostilled through the U.S. Department of State. The document must be an original or agency-certified copy bearing an official signature and seal. Do not notarize original federal records; follow U.S. Department of State requirements for federal apostille processing.

Foreign customs authorities, regulatory agencies, and trade partners require apostilled certificates to confirm the authenticity of the official signature and seal — whether for customs clearance, registering regulated products, or verifying agricultural safety compliance. An apostille authenticates the document; it does not validate product regulatory compliance or grant registration in the destination country.

No — for official FDA- or USDA-issued certificates bearing an agency signature and seal, apostilles are applied directly without a prior notarization step. Eligibility depends on the actual certificate format and issuing authority. Ordinary copies or private-vendor certificates are not eligible. Confirm the document format with us before ordering.

Yes. Official USPTO-issued patent and trademark certificates bearing an agency signature and seal can be apostilled for recognition abroad, without prior notarization. This is commonly needed to register intellectual property in foreign jurisdictions. An apostille authenticates the official USPTO signature — it does not grant IP rights in the destination country or substitute for foreign registration procedures.

Yes. We process articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, bylaws, and business licenses, including bulk orders for companies with international operations.

Our estimated processing window for eligible documents is a few business days, depending on the issuing agency and document preparation requirements. This is a business estimate — federal and state current timelines vary and cannot be guaranteed. Confirm current availability when ordering.

Yes, for FDA, USDA, export, corporate, and other government-issued documents when required by the receiving country.

Yes. Worldwide shipping is available through FedEx, DHL, UPS, and USPS.

An apostille does not have an automatic expiry date. However, some receiving authorities may still request a recently issued certificate. Confirm current requirements with the recipient.

Full embassy and consular legalization coordination is available for non-Hague countries instead of an apostille.