Federal documents, and state documents headed to non-Hague countries
We perform the federal step only, the U.S. Department of State apostille or authentication. We handle federal documents for any destination. We also handle state documents, but only when the destination country has not joined the Hague Convention, since a state document headed to a Hague country instead needs a state apostille from a different office, which we do not offer.
Federal documents, any destination
Federal documents are eligible for a U.S. Department of State apostille (Hague destinations) or authentication (non-Hague destinations), no matter where they are headed. For a non-Hague destination, after we return your authenticated document, you take it to that country's embassy or consulate to complete legalization. That step is yours to complete, not ours.
FBI background check (Identity History Summary)
- Send the original FBI Identity History Summary. A No Record result still qualifies.
- Do not have it notarized. Notarizing it causes rejection.
- We authenticate the document you provide. We do not order or obtain the background check for you.
IRS document (for example Form 6166)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
USCIS document (for example a certified naturalization or citizenship certificate copy)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
National Archives (NARA) record
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. federal court document
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
USPTO document (patent or trademark)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
FDA certificate (for example Certificate to Foreign Government)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
Other federal document (describe)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
State documents, only for non-Hague destinations
A state document headed to a non-Hague country needs three steps: state authentication, then our federal authentication, then embassy legalization. We perform the federal step only. You must arrange state authentication with the issuing state's Secretary of State before sending the document to us, and you complete embassy legalization yourself after we return your authenticated document. If your destination country is a Hague member, a state document instead needs a single state apostille from that state's own office, which is a different service that we do not offer.
Birth, marriage, or death certificate
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
Diploma or transcript
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
State background check
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
State court document
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
Notarized affidavit or power of attorney
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
Business or corporate document
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
Other state document (describe)
A state issued document. When it is headed to a non-Hague country, we perform the federal authentication step. See our embassy legalization page for what happens before and after our part.
Federal versus state documents
The United States has two separate issuing systems. Federal documents, such as an FBI background check or an IRS letter, are issued by a federal agency. State documents, such as a birth certificate, a diploma, or a notarized power of attorney, are issued at the state or county level. Which system issued your document does not by itself decide whether we can help. What matters is where the document is going.
Hague versus non-Hague destinations
If a federal document is going to a Hague Convention country, the U.S. Department of State issues an apostille and no further steps are needed. If a federal document is going to a non-Hague country, it receives an authentication instead. We perform that federal step. Afterward, you take the authenticated document to the destination country's embassy or consulate to complete legalization yourself.
State documents follow the same destination-based rule. Headed to a non-Hague country, a state document needs state authentication (which you arrange before sending it to us), then our federal authentication, then embassy legalization (which you complete afterward). Headed to a Hague country, a state document instead needs a single state apostille from that state's own office, which is not a service we offer. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.