Purpose of an Apostille
An apostille is needed to authenticate a document for use outside of the United States. It is a form of certification that verifies the authenticity of the document and the signature of the notary public who notarized it. The apostille ensures that the document will be recognized as valid and legal in countries that are a part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
An apostille can be used in any of the countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. This includes over 100 countries around the world. It is commonly required for various purposes such as international adoptions, study abroad programs, employment overseas, marriage abroad, or any other situation where you need to provide an official document to a foreign country.
Members of the Hague Apostille Convention:
There currently 118 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Some of these countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa. You can find full list of member countries can be found on the official website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law: https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members
Commonly Apostilled Documents:
A variety of documents can be apostilled, including but not limited to:
1. Birth certificates
2. Marriage certificates
3. Divorce decrees
4. Adoption records
5. Power of attorney documents
6. Notarized agreements or contracts
7. School transcripts and diplomas
8. Driver’s licenses and passports
9. Court orders and judgments
10. Corporate documents (such as articles of incorporation or certificates of good standing)
These are just some examples, and the specific documents that require an apostille may vary depending on the requirements of the country where the document will be used. If you need assistance with obtaining an Apostille, our notaries can answer a variety of questions and provide resources. We will Apostille your documents for you. Allow us to complete the Apostille process, so you don’t have to.
More Information:https://azsos.gov/services/apostille-document-authentication
The best place to find more information on getting a document Apostilled will be the Secretary of State. The website ishttps://azsos.gov/services/apostille-document-authentication