An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate the origin of certain public documents that will be presented in another country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apostille verifies the authenticity of the signature on the document, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and, when applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp on the document. It does not certify or validate the contents of the underlying document.

Apostilles may be issued by a designated state or federal authority, depending on the type of document and where it originated.

If the destination country does not participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, the document may require a different authentication and legalization process, which can include additional government certification and Embassy or Consulate legalization.

Because requirements vary by document and destination country, it is important to confirm what the receiving authority requires before beginning the process.