An apostille stamp may also be referred to as a sticker, certification, or seal. It is required to authenticate notarized documents that are being sent overseas. Documents that may require being apostilled are birth and death certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, or background checks. Over 80 countries, in accordance with the Hague Convention, accept documents with this authentication worldwide.
The requirements and process varies by country, so go to the website of the verifying agency in your country. As examples, Secretary of States in the United States are the only authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia is their only authenticating authority, and in the Netherlands only the 19 district courts can do it. The process of getting your documents apostilled is simple, but not easy.
In the United States, go to your state government website and locate the notary public service section. Within that section, find apostilling or authentication. Typically, there will be a request form to download and print to start the process. If not, follow the directions listed on the website. This process will be similar in other countries.
Gather together all documents that will need to be authenticated. Put them together with the request form. If you do not have a request form, attach a letter with your name and address, the amount of fees you are including, and the name and address of where to send your verified documents. Put the documents, request form or letter, and appropriate fees in an envelope. The amounts for fees are listed on the websites and range from less than ten dollars to more than thirty.
For rush orders, it is best to hand-deliver the documents yourself. This will probably require waiting for the government agency to verify them. Once verified, you can mail them to the overseas requesting government yourself. Sometimes an agency will outsource the process, and you simply drop them off and wait for notification that they started the process.
When mailing your documents, fees, and letter or request form, do not forget to provide an addressed and stamped return envelope for the agency to send authenticated documents back to you or the requesting country. Send this packet to the address listed on the government website that does the verifications. Using certified mail is recommended to know they were accepted.
Sometimes the verification process can be done in a day, if you hand-deliver the documents. When mailed, it is usually a 3-day process from receipt of the documents. If the verifying agency outsources the service, it could be longer. After verification, if you mailed your documents, you can receive them back by certified mail or overnight delivery for additional fees.
For some people the process feels overwhelming, or they do not want to be bothered with it. In those cases, a service can be hired to get the apostille stamp on your documents for you. It may cost more, but you will know that it will be done correctly and efficiently because they do it routinely. You will save the time and hassle of having to deal with bureaucracy yourself.
The requirements and process varies by country, so go to the website of the verifying agency in your country. As examples, Secretary of States in the United States are the only authorities, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia is their only authenticating authority, and in the Netherlands only the 19 district courts can do it. The process of getting your documents apostilled is simple, but not easy.
In the United States, go to your state government website and locate the notary public service section. Within that section, find apostilling or authentication. Typically, there will be a request form to download and print to start the process. If not, follow the directions listed on the website. This process will be similar in other countries.
Gather together all documents that will need to be authenticated. Put them together with the request form. If you do not have a request form, attach a letter with your name and address, the amount of fees you are including, and the name and address of where to send your verified documents. Put the documents, request form or letter, and appropriate fees in an envelope. The amounts for fees are listed on the websites and range from less than ten dollars to more than thirty.
For rush orders, it is best to hand-deliver the documents yourself. This will probably require waiting for the government agency to verify them. Once verified, you can mail them to the overseas requesting government yourself. Sometimes an agency will outsource the process, and you simply drop them off and wait for notification that they started the process.
When mailing your documents, fees, and letter or request form, do not forget to provide an addressed and stamped return envelope for the agency to send authenticated documents back to you or the requesting country. Send this packet to the address listed on the government website that does the verifications. Using certified mail is recommended to know they were accepted.
Sometimes the verification process can be done in a day, if you hand-deliver the documents. When mailed, it is usually a 3-day process from receipt of the documents. If the verifying agency outsources the service, it could be longer. After verification, if you mailed your documents, you can receive them back by certified mail or overnight delivery for additional fees.
For some people the process feels overwhelming, or they do not want to be bothered with it. In those cases, a service can be hired to get the apostille stamp on your documents for you. It may cost more, but you will know that it will be done correctly and efficiently because they do it routinely. You will save the time and hassle of having to deal with bureaucracy yourself.
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