Apostille Services
Preparing documents for use abroad can involve multiple agencies, certifications, and document-specific requirements.
Global Apostille Group provides professional apostille assistance for personal, educational, legal, and business documents issued throughout the United States.
We review your documents, identify the appropriate authentication route, and coordinate the process from start to finish.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate the origin of certain public documents for use in countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.
The apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the signer acted, and, when applicable, the identity of the seal or stamp appearing on the document.
The preparation process varies by document type and issuing authority. Some documents can proceed directly to the appropriate state or federal authority, while others may require notarization, county-level certification, or another preliminary step.
It authenticates the relevant public signature, seal, or official capacity so the document can be recognized abroad.
Documents We Apostille
We assist with a wide range of documents intended for international use. Requirements vary depending on the issuing authority, document format, and destination country.
Vital Records
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce records, and other eligible government-issued records.
Educational Documents
Diplomas, transcripts, school records, certificates, and other educational documents prepared according to state requirements.
Legal & Personal Documents
Powers of attorney, affidavits, single-status documents, wills, declarations, agreements, and other eligible records.
Background Checks
FBI background checks and qualifying state or local criminal history records requiring international authentication.
Business Documents
Certificates of status, formation documents, corporate filings, resolutions, commercial agreements, and other business records.
Federal Documents
Eligible documents issued by U.S. federal agencies that follow the federal apostille or authentication process.
Why Trust Global Apostille Group?
International document processing is detail-driven. Our goal is to make the process clear, organized, and easier to manage from the moment we review your documents through completion.
Experienced Processing
Our professional experience includes the processing of more than 1,000 apostilles across personal, educational, legal, and business document types.
Document-Specific Review
We do not treat every document the same. We review the issuing authority, document format, notarization or certification, and destination before determining the appropriate route.
Clear Communication
Clients receive straightforward instructions, transparent service information, and responsive communication throughout the process.
Apostille FAQs
Common questions about preparing U.S. documents for international use.
How do I know if I need an apostille?
Apostilles are generally used when an eligible U.S. public document will be presented in another country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention. The required process depends on the document, issuing authority, and destination country.
Does every document need to be notarized before receiving an apostille?
No. Certain certified government records can often proceed without notarization, while private documents and some educational or business records may require notarization or another certification step first.
Can a photocopy receive an apostille?
It depends on the document and jurisdiction. Many public records require an official certified copy from the issuing authority. Certain private documents may qualify through a properly notarized copy or certification where permitted.
Can you apostille documents from outside New York?
Yes. Global Apostille Group provides nationwide assistance with qualifying state documents and can coordinate apostille processing according to the requirements of the issuing state.
What if my document is federal?
Federal documents generally follow the federal authentication process rather than a state apostille process. Examples can include FBI background checks and qualifying documents issued by U.S. federal agencies.
What if the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention?
A non-Hague country may require authentication and additional legalization rather than a standard apostille. Requirements vary by country and document type.
How long does the apostille process take?
Processing times vary by issuing authority, state, document type, and service level. We provide an estimated turnaround after reviewing the documents and determining the appropriate authentication route.