What is Apostille?
A certificate that authenticates a public document (birth certificate, degree, criminal record) for legal use in another country that is party to the 1961 Hague Convention.
Also searched as: Hague apostille, document legalization.
An apostille is issued by a designated authority in the country where the document originated. It verifies the signature and seal on the document so a foreign authority will accept it without further legalization.
Between Hague Convention members, an apostille replaces the older, slower consular-legalization chain. For non-member countries you may instead need embassy legalization. Documents often also need a certified translation.
Official source: HCCH — Apostille Section.
Reviewed July 2026. General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice — always verify current official requirements.
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