The 1961 Hague Convention established the apostille as a form of authentication for its member states.
An apostille is authentication of a public document in a foreign country. A public document is a document issued by an elected or appointed public official or has been notarized. For example, a marriage license, death certificate, school transcript, diploma, vehicle title, adoption records, criminal background checks, court documents, etc.
The apostille certifies the authenticity of the issuing official or notary public’s signature.
Each state designates a Competent Authority who issues an apostille for a public document.
The Florida Secretary of State is the Competent Authority in Florida.
Only the Competent Authority can issue an apostille.
Countries that are nonmembers of the 1961 Hague Convention are not issued an apostille; they are issued notarial certificates or certifications.
Like the apostille, this certification authenticates the issuing official or notary signature.
Yes. First, we submit your document to the Florida Secretary of State for authentication, and then forward the documentation to the U.S. Department of State, if required for processing.
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