Requirements For Federal Document Apostille

Requirements For Federal Document Apostille

An apostille is an internationally recognized form of authentication that guarantees the validity of public documents. The requirement for an apostille depends on the destination country of the document. Countries that have joined the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents recognize public documents issued in other signatory countries if they are attached with an apostille or certificate of authentication.

Public apostille federal certificates must be signed by a notary public or a County Clerk to be eligible for an apostille. Before requesting an apostille, contact the office or government entity that issued the document to determine their specific requirements.

Cost of Federal Apostille Services Explained

If the document is federally-issued, first determine which U.S. department issued it. Then, submit a copy of the document and request an authentication or apostille from that department. The department will issue a certification to attach to the original document that authenticates its seal and signature.

Private or state/county-issued documents should be certified with an authentication or apostille by the authority designated to do so, which is usually the State Secretary of State’s office. Click here for more information on Maryland’s apostille process.

To avoid delays, apply well in advance for your apostille or full legalization service. This provides sufficient time to verify the authenticity of your documents, obtain any necessary certified copies or other certified materials and submit them for attestation by MEA. If you are applying for a full legalization, please note that MEA’s processing time is longer than normal attestation services. MEA also requires that you bring a valid passport or other photo identification when you pick up your documents.