An apostille is an international certification for notarized documents used between countries that are members of the Hague Convention. It is affixed by competent government authorities and is required for personal documents being used in another country. The apostille itself is a separate stamped certification that is attached to the original document and verifies its authenticity for use in other member countries. Documents that are apostilled do not require any additional certification when being used in another member country.

1. What is Apostille?
WWW.UNIVERSAL-TRANSLATION-SERVICES.COM
Apostille is a type of a certificate, used by the countries who are members of
The Hague Convention titled “Abolishing the Requirement of Consular
Legalization for Foreign Public Documents of 1961”. Under this Convention,
member countries agree to facilitate the exchange and verification of
documents, and one such instrument is an apostille – essentially an
international certification of a notarized document in any country that
participates in the convention.

2. Apostille is affixed by competent authorities designated by the
government of a country which is party to the convention.
Apostille is done for personal documents like birth, marriage,
death certificates, affidavits, educational documents like
degrees, diplomas, secondary level certificates etc.
Apostille stamp is a square shaped computer generated
sticker, pasted on reverse of the original documents. Apostille
stamp is a unique sticker having a unique identification
number, through which any member country of The Hague
convention can check its authenticity online. Under normal
circumstances, once the document has been Apostilled, it
does not need to be attested any more from the concerned
foreign embassy.

3. Only countries belonging to The Hague Convention can issue and
accept apostilles. In the United States, all 50 states and the Federal
Government can issue apostilles.
However, an apostille can only be obtained for the correct jurisdiction.
So, if your original document is from New York State, then the New
York Secretary of State apostilles it.
The apostille itself is a separate certification. It gets attached to your
original document usually by a staple, a rivet or a ribbon. It may contain
a raised seal, a gold seal, a ribbon, or any other design elements
agreed upon by its issuing body.

4. Do I Need Apostille?
You will need an apostille when your document will be used
in a foreign country. You will also need an apostille when your
document will be used in a foreign consulate within your home
country.
If you are translating and notarizing a document in the USA that is going
overseas to the country that is part of the convention, you do need the
apostille. If the destination country is not a member of the convention,
you don’t need to obtain the apostille certification, because it is not going
to be recognized anyway.
There is a growing need for apostille translations and Apostille
services for documents to be used abroad.
In fact, certified translations of apostille documents are
required in many international situations including
marriage, citizenship, adoption, business transactions
and legal proceedings.

5. Do I Need to Translate
Apostille?
Yes, we recommend that you
obtain certified translation of
the apostilled document, as
well as the certified translation
of the apostille certificate
attached to it.
How Do I Get a
Document
Apostilled?
The Office of the Secretary of
State for each state is
empowered to place the stamp
on documents for use in foreign
countries. The website of the
secretary of state is the best place
to find information on the
process, as it can vary somewhat
from one state to the next. You’ll
need to have all of
the appropriate channels, per
your state guidelines, to get to
the right department and request
the apostille. The applicant sends
the form, the original document
that requires the
stamp and a fee to the secretary of
state for processing. The time
frame could be up to seven days,
so give yourself some flexibility if
you need an apostille; you may
not be able to get it immediately.
your documents in order. This
means you’ll need original copies
of your state-issued documents,
notarized within that state and
made official.
You’ll also need the name of the
country requesting that document,
so your notary can double check
the document requirements due
to the fact that each country has
their own set of specific guidelines
regarding document apostilles.
Any vital records must come from
their country of origin. You can
request an apostille online or in
person, and you’ll need to go through

6. How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
The total cost of getting an apostille may include getting
copies of all necessary documents. Depending on the
county, some vital records offices may charge $10 and
up per copy, for documents like birth or marriage
certificates. Factor in the cost of a signing service, as
well as the apostille itself, and you’ll have the total
amount. To request an apostille from
the Secretary of State, it’s generally $15 per
copy, unless the apostille is for
adoption proceedings, in which
case the cost drops down to $10 per
apostille.
What About Documents Written
in A Foreign Language?
If you need documents apostilled that are not written in English, you’ll need
to have the papers translated by a translator, then the notary signs on the
translated documents. The notary would need to witness the translation as
well as the translator signing the papers, then both the untranslated and
translated copies would be turned in to receive the apostille.
All apostilles require a legal signature and official seal of the participating
agency. Documents that are apostilled require no further certification upon
entering another country, including Embassy or customs certification.
Check with state guidelines to ensure you have everything you need to
request an apostille as well as the appropriate forms and notarized
documents to expedite the process.

7. Where Can I Get My Document
Translated and Apostilled?
You may contact Universal Translation Services with all your
certified document translation and apostille needs in any
foreign language and English.
The Apostille must be affixed at the government agency in
the country which issued the original document in the foreign
language. If that foreign country is a member of The Hague
convention, then you will be able to easily locate the contact
information for the appropriate authorities in the pertinent
foreign country on The Hague Convention’s website.