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Authentication of Documents
(Apostille or Embassy Legalization)
Online Application Form
Documents issued in one country and intended for use in another country must be "authenticated" or "legalized" in order to be recognized as valid in the foreign country.
The number and type of authentication certificates you will need depend on the nature of the document and whether or not the foreign country is a party to the multilateral treaty on "legalization" of documents. |
| (A) |
If your document is intended for use in a country which is a party to a treaty called the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents ("Hague Legalization Convention" HLC ) (See HLC-Countries), obtaining a special "apostille" certificate is generally all that is required. Apostille is a special certificate that is attached to another document being certified. |
| (B) |
If the country where the document will be used is not a party to the Convention (See non-HLC-Countries), you will need "Embassy (Consular) Legalization" ( "Chain Authentication"). "Embassy (Consular) Legalization" of official documents is a procedure of confirmation of the validity of originals of official documents or certification of authenticity of signatures of the officials, authorized to certify the signatures on documents, and also the validity of prints of stamps, seals by which the document is fastened. The documents for non Hague Countries are subjected to "chain authentication" in the State, Federal and Embassy levels. The Department of State, Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of Sate providing authentication services on documents that will be used overseas and then they are certified in the Embassy or Consulate of that country for which they will be legalized.
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We provide authentication ( legalization) services to corporations, law firms, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on all documents that will be used in foreign countries.. |
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obtain Apostilles for documents intended for use in the Hague Convention countries (See HLC-Countries). |
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obtain foreign certification (State, Federal and Embassy levels) for non Hague Convention countries (See non-HLC-Countries). |
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Embassy (Consulate) legalization. |
To complete the order, please complete and submit our Online Application Form
All fields marked by the asterisk ( * ) must be completed. |
P.S.
| A&M Logos International, Inc specializes in Express Apostille service - authentication of public official signatures on documents to be used outside the United States of America . We can authenticate and get an Apostille for documents issued in any State of USA |
| Express Apostille processing (Same day) is available for the documents which are issued in New York State . Any documents executed in the other State can be authenticated during 2-3 business day ( Rush Apostille). |
Apostille
What is an "Apostille" or "Authentication?" |
| Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. The Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention. Under the Hague Convention, signatory countries have agreed to recognize public documents issued by other signatory countries if those public documents are authenticated by the attachment of an internationally recognized form of authentication known as an " apostille ". The Apostille ensures that public documents issued in one signatory country will be recognized as valid in another signatory country. |
| The sole function of the Apostille is to certify the authenticity of the signature on the document; the capacity in which the person signing the document acted; and the identity of any stamp or seal affixed to the document. |
| An Apostille issued by the Secretary of State is a one page document embossed with the Great Seal of a State. The Apostille includes the facsimile signature of the individual issuing the certificate. |
| There are currently over 60 member states of the Hague convention and in addition to those countries many other countries will also recognise an Apostille certificate (follow the link to a list of these countries ). |
| The Convention applies only to public documents . These are documents emanating from an authority or official connected with a court or tribunal of the State (including documents issued by an administrative, constitutional or ecclesiastical court or tribunal, a public prosecutor, a clerk or a process-server); administrative documents; notarial acts; and official certificates which are placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as official certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date and official and notarial authentications of signatures. The main examples of public documents for which Apostille are issued in practice include birth , marriage and death certificates; extracts from commercial registers and other registers; patents; court rulings; notarial acts and notarial attestations of signatures; academic diplomas issued by public institutions. Diplomas issued by private institutions may not be apostillised directly; a "private" diploma may, however, bear an official certificate issued by a notary, Solicitor, Agency or any other person or authority competent under the law of the State of origin of the diploma to authenticate the signature on the diploma. This official certificate is a public document under the Convention and thus may be apostillised. In such a case the Apostille does not relate to the diploma itself; instead it certifies the authenticity of the certificate on or accompanying the diploma. |
The Hague Legalization Convention is in force in the following countries.
"Embassy (Consular) Legalization"
"Chain Authentication"
Documents Issued by Federal Courts: Documents issued under the seal of a federal court should be preliminary authentication by the Justice Management Division. After the seal of the Justice Management Division is on the document, it may be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. The final step is to obtain the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States. Usually, foreign embassies or consulates in the U.S. can only authenticate the seal of the U.S. Department of State. Some foreign embassies and consulates maintain sample seals of state authorities. |
| Documents Issued by Federal Agencies: Documents issued under the seal of a federal agency can be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. The final step is to obtain the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States. Usually, foreign embassies or consulates in the U.S. can only authenticate the seal of the U.S. Department of State. Some foreign embassies and consulates maintain sample seals of state authorities. |
| State Documents: State documents such as documents originating with a state court or agency (birth, death, marriage, etc.) must be authenticated by the appropriate office in the state Secretary of State's office. The document may then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. The document may then be authenticated by the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States. Usually, foreign embassies or consulates in the U.S. can only authenticate the seal of the U.S. Department of State. Some foreign embassies and consulates maintain sample seals of state authorities. |
| Notarized Documents: The procedure for authenticating documents executed before a notary public such as affidavits or acknowledgments varies from state to state. In some states, this requires contacting the clerk of the court of the county where the notary is licensed, and obtaining an authentication of the notary's seal. The state Secretary of State's office can then authenticate the seal of the clerk of the county court (Foreign Certification). After the seal of the state Secretary of State is on the document, it may be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. The final step is to obtain the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States. Usually, foreign embassies or consulates in the U.S. can only authenticate the seal of the U.S. Department of State. Some foreign embassies and consulates maintain sample seals of state authorities. |
The following countries are not a party to the Convention and need "Embassy (Consular) Legalization" ( "Chain Authentication").
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Australia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Burma
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Congo (Brazzaville)
Congo (Kinshasa)
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia, The
Ghana |
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Holy See
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, North
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Micronesia
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Oman |
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe |
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