Many countries require documents to be authenticated before they can be used or mailed in that country. Traditionally, this process was complex and time-consuming – it was called “legalization.” The 1961 Hague Convention abolished the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents and simplified it to just one step: an authentication certificate (an apostille).

Getting Federal Agency Documents Apostilled: A Step-by-Step Guide

Apostille for federal agency docs is authorized by state law to provide apostilles for certain public documents signed or verified by a notary public or county clerk in New York State that are to be used in or sent to a country that is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. The apostille certifies that the notary or county clerk has been properly commissioned and empowered to notarize or verify the document presented for certification. It also confirms that the notary has correctly followed the laws of the State of New York for the conduct required to notarize or verify the document.

If you have a document issued by a federal agency in the United States that needs to be authenticated for use in a foreign jurisdiction, you must send it to the U.S. Department of State Authentication Office for an authentication or apostille. Their requirements, costs and address can be found here.

If you are unsure whether your document requires an apostille, please review the list of participating countries in the Apostille Convention and contact the foreign country’s embassy or consulate for their specific authentication requirements. You should also consult with the Department of State and/or the embassy or consulate in your intended country to determine their particular requirements.