You Need an ‘Apostille’. What’s Next?
You are Travelling and the Country tells you that you need an ‘Apostille’, now what?!
If you are travelling or moving to another country and have been told you need an Apostille, chances are you weren’t given much of a roadmap. You might even be wondering what it is, why you need one, or how on earth to get it.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it out alone.
What is an Apostille?
An Apostille is a type of international certification. Think of it as a passport for your documents. It proves that a document issued in the United States is authentic and can be recognized by another country.
This process exists because of an international treaty called the Hague Convention of 1961. Countries that are part of this treaty agreed to recognize Apostilles instead of requiring full document legalization. It saves time and removes red tape when documents cross borders.
If the country you're dealing with is not part of the Hague Convention, the process is more complicated and usually requires additional steps through consulates or embassies, but I can help with that too.
When Do You Need an Apostille?
You might need an Apostille if you're:
Getting married abroad
Applying for dual citizenship
Adopting a child from another country
Handling an estate with international ties
Sending business or legal documents overseas
Studying overseas
Or lots of other reasons
Which Documents Need Apostilles?
Common documents that require Apostilles include:
Birth and death certificates
Marriage certificates
Divorce decrees
FBI background checks
School transcripts and diplomas
Power of Attorney forms
Business agreements and notarized documents
Where Do Documents Get Sent?
Here’s where things can get confusing. Where your documents go depends on what they are and where they were issued.
Vital records like birth, death, or marriage certificates must go to the state where they were originally issued. For example, a birth certificate from California has to go through the California Secretary of State.
Notarized documents, like a Power of Attorney or an affidavit, usually go through the Secretary of State, where the notary is commissioned. This means that if you had a document that was notarized in Oregon but you moved to Washington, the document may have to go to Oregon to get apostilled.
Federal documents like FBI background checks or naturalization records often have to go to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
This patchwork of rules is what makes people’s heads spin, but this is where I come in.
How I Can Help
At Ravalli Mobile Notary, I take the guesswork out of the Apostille process. Here’s how I support my clients:
I review your documents and determine exactly where they need to go
I handle the submission and delivery, whether that’s a state office, the U.S. Department of State, or another agency
I stay in communication with you the entire time, so you know the status of your request
I make it easy. No confusing forms, no long wait times at government offices, no second-guessing if you’ve done it right.
Available Starting August 1
I’ll be accepting Apostille requests starting August 1, 2025, and I’m happy to answer questions ahead of time.
If you’re unsure whether you need an Apostille, or what kind of documentation is required, just reach out. I’m here to help you get it done right, the first time.
