Apostille FAQs

Question mark on chalkboard representing apostille FAQ page
Not sure what an apostille is or how the process works? Scroll down for our apostille FAQs or call +1 (415) 655-9455 to talk with us directly.

What is an apostille?

An apostille, according to the California Secretary of State, “is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country. An Apostille certifies:

  • the authenticity of the signature of the public official who signed the document,
  • the capacity in which that public official acted, and
  • when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.

The Apostille does not validate the contents of the document.”

What is the Hague Apostille Convention?

As the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) explains, “The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) facilitates the use of public documents abroad. The purpose of the Convention is to abolish the traditional requirement of legalisation, replacing the often long and costly legalisation process with the issuance of a single Apostille certificate by a Competent Authority in the place where the document originates.”

Which countries have signed the Hague Apostille Convention?

As of January 2025, 129 countries have joined the Hague Apostille Convention. Accordingly, any of these countries should accept the apostille on your document:

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark

Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India*
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania

Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Philippines
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Suriname
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela

* India may require additional processing for certain documents, such as an India Power of Attorney

** Bangladesh has signed the Hague Convention, but its membership will not enter force until 30 March 2025

What about other countries?

Countries that are not party to the Apostille Convention, and even some that are, have highly specific authentication/legalization requirements. Please contact us to learn more.

How long does an apostille take?

The processing time for a California apostille is one to two business days. We also offer US State Department apostille service in as little as three weeks. Please call us at +1 (415) 655-9455 to discuss your document(s).

Whose signatures can be apostilled?

The California Secretary of State only authenticates signatures on documents that are issued in the State of California and are notarized by a commissioned notary public or any of the following public officials or their deputies:

  • County clerks, health officers, and recorders
  • Court administrators of the Superior Court
  • Executive clerks of the Superior Court
  • Executive officers of the Superior Court
  • FBI officials
  • Judges of the Superior Court
  • State officials

Does an apostille validate the content of a document?

An apostille is not a guarantee of the truthfulness of document content, and it does not guarantee that the receiving country will approve the document. As a matter of fact, it is solely a certification that the official who signed and stamped the document (i.e., a notary public, county clerk, court official, etc.) is properly authorized to do so.

Do I need to be in California to get the apostille?

This is one of the top apostille FAQs we get, and the answer is: sometimes. It is true that certain documents require notarization in order to be apostilled. In this case, you will need to sign in front of a notary public. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, our mobile notaries can come to your location to notarize your document, and then take it to be apostilled.

Contrarily, other documents–such as academic records, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates–do not require your presence. We will let you know whether or not you need to be present once we know the scope of your apostille needs.

Do you offer pickup/shipping services for apostilles and legalizations?

Yes! We can pick up the documents in San Francisco and select Bay Area locations for an additional fee. We will notarize them if needed. After apostille and/or legalization, we can ship them back to you or send them directly to the receiving country.

Thanks for these apostille FAQs. Now how do I schedule an apostille?

Ready to schedule or still have questions after reading these apostille FAQs? Please call +1 (415) 655-9455 or email [email protected].

Disclaimer: Information on this website is for informational purposes only. These instructions are based on our knowledge and experience and are meant to be helpful; however, they might contain errors. Please let us know if you encounter mistakes so that we can promptly correct them. SF Notary + Apostille is not a law firm, and its agents are not attorneys. Please contact a licensed attorney or your local bar association for counsel on legal matters.