Apostille Certification

Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention (see list of countries). Documents destined for use in participating countries and their territories should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed. Said official must have been designated as competent to issue certifications by "apostille" (usually in the office of the State Secretary of State of his/her counterpart) as provided for by the 1961 Hague Convention. The text of the Convention may be found in T.I.A.S. 10072; 33 U.S. Treaty Series (UST) 883; 527 U.N. Treaty Series (UNTS) 189, and Martindale-Hubble International Law Digest.

With this certification by the Hague Convention apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification by the Authentications Office or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required. The Authentications Office only certifies documents from other federal agencies and officials from foreign governments with the apostille.

Territories
Anqulla
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Barbados
Bermuda
British Antarctic
British Soloman Islands
British Guiana (Guyana)
Cayman
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Gilbert & Ellice Islands (Kiribati)
Grenada
Hong Kong
The Isle of Man Jersey
Montserat
New Hebrides (Vanuatu)
Saint Christopher & Nevis
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
Turks & Caicos
Virgin Islands

Departments in Europe
French Guiana
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Reunion

List of Countries and Territories Participating in Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents Countries

CONVENTION COUNTRIES