So Just What is an Apostille?

Apostilles are certificates affixed by officials designated by the government in question. These certificates are used to certify notarized documents from a foreign country that participates in the Convention. The purpose is to streamline and reduce the oversight requirements for some of the most common international paperwork.

Almost any official document that is getting translated and notarized in preparation for being submitted to a foreign country (a foreign country with a different official language) will need the apostille. For countries that are not a part of the 1961 Hague Convention, you will have to directly contact the Secretary of State's office to find out how to certify documents.

Generally, the relevant authority apostilles certificates with their seal and signature. Often these designated officials can be found in embassies, courts, and local government buildings. Different countries have different requirements for this designation.

How do I Get an Apostilled Document?

While the exact process will differ by country, the base requirements will be about the same. You get your document translated by professional translators, and then you get it notarized. From there, you may need to mail your document to the Secretary of State to get it apostilled. In some cases, the apostille itself may need to be then translated.

We should look at a more specific example. If someone from the US was planning to get married to someone in Mexico, they are going to make sure that for each piece of paperwork, they have a certified translation in Spanish, and a representative of the government notarizes it. They must also have an Apostille stamp to authenticate them. These are all services that The Spanish Group can assist you with. An Apostille in Spanish is not a rare requirement (for those who frequently ask, apostillar means apostille in Spanish).