An Apostille is an official international certification that makes a document legally recognized in foreign countries. It is the international equivalent of notarization for cross-border use.

When you need to use a U.S. document in another country — whether for immigration, education, marriage, business, or legal proceedings — the receiving country typically requires the document to be accompanied by an Apostille certificate. This certificate confirms that the document was properly signed and/or notarized by a recognized U.S. official.

An Apostille does not translate a document, nor does it certify the accuracy of the document's content. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp of the official who signed or notarized the document.

Use Case Categories

Education: Diplomas, transcripts, degrees for study or work abroad

Immigration & Visa: Birth certificates, marriage licenses, background checks

Real Estate: Deeds, powers of attorney, and property documents for international use

Business: Articles of incorporation, commercial agreements, corporate filings

Legal Proceedings: Court documents, affidavits, and legal instruments for foreign courts

Personal Records: Vital records, adoption papers, name changes, and more

The legal framework that makes Apostilles internationally recognized.

The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 — formally known as the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents — is an international treaty that simplifies the process of certifying documents for use between member countries.

Before the Hague Convention, using a document internationally required a lengthy chain of certifications from multiple government authorities. The Apostille system replaced this process with a single standardized certificate, accepted by all member nations without further legalization.

125+ Member Countries

The Hague Convention is in force in over 125 countries, including the United States, most of Europe, Latin America, India, China, Japan, and Australia. An Apostille issued in the U.S. is automatically recognized in all member nations.

Single Certificate, Global Use

Once an Apostille is attached to your document, no further legalization or embassy certification is needed in any Hague member country. The document is ready for international use immediately.

Non-Hague Countries

If the destination country is not a Hague member, the document requires an Authentication instead of an Apostille. Authentication involves additional certification steps through the U.S. Department of State and often the destination country's embassy. Rush Notary can assist with both.

Not sure if your country is a Hague member? Contact us and we will confirm the correct certification path for your specific destination country and document type.