The Apostille Convention is an international treaty designed to simplify the process of obtaining documents for use in foreign countries. The term “apostille” refers to the official seal that a country’s Secretary of State places on a document to certify that it is authentic.
The United States has been a member of the Convention since 1986, which means that U.S. certificates and documents are eligible for apostilles from other countries party to the Convention. Documents issued by state governments are also eligible for apostilles if they have been certified by the Secretary of State or another designated officer.
What Types of Documents Are Eligible?
The most common type of document that requires an apostille is a certificate issued by the U.S. government, such as birth certificates or marriage licenses. Other types of documents that may need to be certified include:
- Passports
- Military records
- Diplomatic credentials
- Court documents (such as divorce decrees, adoption orders and judgments)
- Marriage certificates
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Court records (such as divorce decrees, adoption orders and judgments)
- Certificates of good standing issued by the state bar association
and more….
In the U.S., an apostille is a stamp or seal that certifies the authenticity of a document issued by a government body in any country that is party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirements of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille). The purpose of this certification is to allow parties from different countries to recognize each other’s documents as valid legal documents instead of requiring them to be translated into their native language and then legalized by both governments before they can be used.
Getting an Apostille in Austin, Texas
This process is relatively simple and can be done in person or online, depending on your needs. To get an apostille in person, simply bring your document to a local branch of the Secretary of State and provide them with any necessary information regarding your request. Once they have processed your paperwork, it will be returned to you with an apostille attached. Of course, if you are in a hurry, there are apostille services Austin that can help you get your document back in a matter of hours. These services are often more expensive than getting an apostille in person, but they may be worth it if time is of the essence.