How to Apostille Original Documents

Apostille is an internationally recognised certificate that authenticates a document to make it legal for use in another country. It is based on an intergovernmental treaty called The Hague Convention of 1961. Most countries that have signed the convention require apostilled documents to be accepted there. However, it is important to note that the apostille does not certify the content of any public documents or translations – only that the signatures and stamps are genuine. Resource :

It is also crucial to know whether a document needs a federal or state apostille (Certificate of Authentication). The difference lies in the source of the document. If the original document was issued by a federal government department then it will need a Federal Apostille. Otherwise, it will need a State Apostille.

Which Countries Need Apostilles?

When preparing to send documents abroad it is important to know whether the country or consulate where they will be used accepts apostilles. Some Commonwealth countries are fine with documents notarised in England and Wales without an apostille but this is not always the case.

It is also vital to know if the document or translation will need to be apostilled before or after it is certified by a notary. This is because the process differs slightly for each type of document. At RON, our notaries are familiar with the differences and can guide you on the best path for your particular document. This is important because if the wrong process is followed, it can lead to your documents being rejected by a foreign consulate or embassy.