What Is an Apostille? Plain-English Guide

The short version

An apostille is a certificate a government attaches to your document so that another country will trust it. It doesn't say your document is true — it says the official who signed or notarized it is genuine. Once the apostille is attached, every member country of the 1961 Hague Convention (115+ countries) must accept the document without any further embassy or consulate legalization.

When you need one

Using a US power of attorney abroad — selling property, managing a bank account, representing family
Getting married in another country (single-status affidavit)
Applying for dual citizenship, residency, or a work visa
Enrolling in a foreign university or getting credentials recognized
Registering a business, opening accounts, or signing contracts overseas
A child traveling internationally with consent documents

When you don't

If the document stays inside the US, you never need an apostille — notarization alone does the job. And if the destination country is not a Hague member, an apostille won't work either; those countries use a longer embassy-legalization chain. Ask us before ordering and we'll tell you honestly which path your document needs.

How you get one — the old way and the new way

Traditionally: find a notary, sign in person, then mail or carry the document to your state's apostille office and wait. The online way: one order with us — a 15-minute video notarization with our Florida notary, then the Florida Secretary of State issues the apostille and we ship the finished package to your door. Works from every US state and, in many cases, from abroad.

The Certificate

Here’s exactly what you’ll receive

Your notarized document comes back with the official Florida Secretary of State apostille certificate attached — security paper with a gold embossed seal, a unique identification number, and the Secretary of State’s signature. It’s the exact format defined by the 1961 Hague Convention, recognized in 115+ member countries with no further legalization.

The original apostille certificate on security paper — not a copy, not a PDF
Unique verification number any receiving authority can confirm with Florida
Stapled to your document by the Department of State exactly as embassies expect
Delivered fully tracked to your door — in the US or anywhere abroad

Official Florida Department of State apostille certificate

How It Works

Four steps. Zero errands.

01

Send your request

One-minute form — we reply with your secure payment link and video session invitation.

02

Verify your identity

A quick photo-ID scan plus identity verification — about 3 minutes, all in your browser.

03

Sign on video with the notary

A live, recorded video session with a Florida-commissioned online notary. Sign electronically while the notary witnesses and seals.

04

We apostille & ship

We certify the notarized document, file it with the Florida Department of State, and ship the apostilled package to your door, fully tracked.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to mail you anything?

No. You upload your document and sign in a live online session. We handle the printing, certification, and Florida Department of State filing on our end — the only physical shipment is the finished apostilled package delivered to you.

What exactly do I receive at the end?

A tracked package containing your notarized document with the official Florida apostille certificate attached by the Department of State — security paper, gold embossed seal, unique verification number — plus the digitally sealed PDF from your session for your records.

Is online notarization legal?

Yes. Remote online notarization is authorized by Florida Statutes Chapter 117, Part II, is recognized across the US, and the Florida Department of State accepts remotely notarized documents for apostille.

Can you ship the finished package abroad?

Yes — the worldwide delivery option sends the apostilled package by express international courier directly to any Hague Convention country, fully tracked, typically arriving in 2–5 business days after the apostille is issued.

How long does the whole process take?

Typically 7–10 business days door to door: your notary session within about a day of confirming, roughly five business days of Florida Department of State processing, then tracked delivery.

Does an apostille expire?

The apostille certificate itself has no expiration date. Some receiving authorities, however, want the underlying document to be recent — commonly within 3–6 months for civil-status documents — so check your receiver's freshness requirement, not the apostille's.

What Is an Apostille?