Apostille & Authentication FAQ
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate that authenticates the signature and seal on your document so it is legally recognized in another country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
What’s the difference between an apostille and legalization?
An apostille is a single certificate accepted by Hague Convention member countries. Countries outside the Convention require embassy or consulate legalization — a multi-step chain that we also handle.
Can I apostille a photocopy of my diploma?
The issuing authority requires originals or registrar-certified copies. To keep your original, we can apostille a notarized copy instead.
My school is in another state — can you help?
Yes. Academic records must be apostilled in the state where the institution is located. We coordinate processing across all 50 states with return delivery to you.
Do public and private schools follow different processes?
Yes. Private-institution documents must be notarized before apostille; public-institution documents usually go straight to the Secretary of State.
Do I also need a translation?
Many countries require a certified translation alongside the apostille. We confirm your destination’s requirements and can bundle translation with your order.
How long does it take?
Standard processing takes several business days; expedited and same-day rush options are available for urgent deadlines.
Can online degrees be apostilled?
Yes — accredited online university degrees follow the same path as their institution type.
Is my personal information secure?
Yes. Documents are transmitted over an encrypted connection and stored in a protected system. See our Privacy Policy.
Do you guarantee acceptance?
We ensure documents are correctly authenticated to official standards. Final acceptance is determined by the receiving institution or authority. See our Terms of Service.