An Apostille Stamp is a type of certification used to certify your public documents. This stamp was created to make it easier for other countries to legally recognize documents issued from different countries, meaning that if you need to use your documents abroad, your copies of public documents must have an Apostille Stamp.
The Apostille Stamp was created as a part of an international treaty in the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legislation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Treaty, or the Apostille Convention), signed in 1961. Since then many countries have joined the convention to make the process of transferring public documents to another country more convenient.
As of 2021, there are 120 countries in the Apostille Treaty, as listed below:
Only public documents require apostilles, some of which include the following:
You can get an Apostille Stamp in one of the following offices in your country:
A list of eligible authorities that can give you an Apostille Stamp is managed by the Hauge Conference on Private International Law. However, each country has its own specifics for Apostille Stamps.
For example, in the US the Secretary of State (for each state) and their deputies can issue apostilles, while in the UK, you can get a stamp from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Milton Keynes.
You need an Apostille Stamp when your documents have to be recognized internationally, i.e., for the following reasons:
This is how you get an Apostille Stamp:
Prices for an Apostille Stamp usually go around 20$ to 50$, depending on the country that issues the stamp. However, if you use a services agency to get your documents certified, you may be asked to pay as much as 200$.
An Apostille Stamp may appear in different forms, sizes, or colors depending on your country. However, it’s usually a stamp or printed, that has “Apostille” written at the top, and under it the following text; Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961.
Underneath the title, you will usually find the following information:
Certified
Sometimes the stamp may be found on the back of a document, on the document, or as an attachment.
Technically, an apostille and notary serve the same function. However, the main difference is that a notary is used domestically, meaning that your notarized documents are valid only within the country that they were certified in, while an apostille makes your documents valid in other countries.
If your country doesn’t belong to the Apostille Treaty, you have to legalize your documents to have them internationally certified. Legalization is a complicated process that usually required double certification.
For example, your documents must first be certified by the foreign ministry of the country that initially issued the document, let’s say the ministry in your home country. Afterwards, your document has to be certified by the ministry of the government of the country where you need to use the record in question. Usually, you can get one of the certifications in an embassy or consulate.
Here is an overview of the main differences between these three legal processes:
| Apostille | Notarization | Legalization |
|---|---|---|
| Only a certain number of countries issue apostilles. | Notarizations happen in every country. | Every country is in charge of legalizing documents as required. |
| Apostilles are recognized internationally. | Notarizations are only valid within the issuing country. | Legalizations are also recognized in every country (is a more complicated process). |
| Apostille stamps are issued by specific governmental bodies. | A notary public can notarize documents. | Legalization of documents usually happens in specific ministries. |
