HAGUE CONVENTION APOSTILLE
Hague Apostille Processing for International Documents
Miami Dade Apostille processes Hague Convention apostilles for U.S. documents used in over 120 member countries, covering state and federal apostilles, certified translation, and notarization. Select a destination country below for country-specific requirements, or read on for how the apostille process works.
DEFINITION
What Is a Hague Apostille?
A Hague apostille is a certification issued by a competent authority — typically a state's Secretary of State for state-issued documents, or the U.S. Department of State for eligible federal documents — that verifies a document's signature, seal, or the capacity in which a person acted. It does not certify the content of the document or guarantee acceptance by any particular receiving authority.
The apostille allows the document to be legally recognized in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961, replacing the older, more involved embassy legalization process for documents traveling between member countries.
PROCESS
How the Apostille Process Works
- 1
Document Review Confirming the document is eligible and whether notarization is needed first.
- 2
Preparation Notarizing or obtaining a certified copy if required.
- 3
Submission Sending the document to the correct state or federal authority.
- 4
Delivery Returning the completed document by mail or international shipping.
Miami Dade Apostille is not a government agency and does not issue apostilles directly. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. Requirements vary by country and document type; confirm specific requirements with the requesting authority.
COUNTRY DIRECTORY
Find Apostille Requirements by Country
Select a country below for information specific to that destination.
- Spain
- Portugal
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Netherlands
- Canada
- South Korea
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
- Guyana
- Austria
- Hungary
- Bulgaria
- Sweden
- Latvia
- Serbia
- Kosovo
- Oman
- Kyrgyzstan
- Singapore
- Morocco
- Lesotho
- Seychelles
- Jamaica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Italy
- Mexico
- Peru
- Venezuela
- Belgium
- Australia
- India
- Guatemala
- Uruguay
- Suriname
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Greece
- Finland
- Lithuania
- Montenegro
- Turkey
- Bahrain
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Eswatini
- Mauritius
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- France
- Colombia
- Chile
- Panama
- Switzerland
- New Zealand
- China
- El Salvador
- Paraguay
- Ireland
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Ukraine
- North Macedonia
- Israel
- Kazakhstan
- Mongolia
- Vietnam
- Namibia
- Liberia
- Bahamas
- Saint Lucia
- Grenada
- Germany
- Argentina
- Dominican Republic
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Japan
- Philippines
- Honduras
- Bolivia
- Luxembourg
- Slovakia
- Romania
- Norway
- Estonia
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Saudi Arabia
- Uzbekistan
- Indonesia
- South Africa
- Botswana
- Cape Verde
- Barbados
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Fiji
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hague Apostille FAQ
What is a Hague apostille?
A Hague apostille is a certification that verifies a document's signature, seal, or the capacity in which a person acted, allowing it to be recognized in another Hague Convention member country. It authenticates the document's origin — not its content — and does not guarantee acceptance by any particular receiving authority.
Which countries accept the Hague apostille?
More than 120 countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, including the destinations listed in the directory above. Acceptance depends on the Convention being in force between the issuing country and the destination country, and on the receiving authority's specific requirements. For current membership status, consult the official HCCH status table at hcch.net.
Who issues apostilles in the United States?
State-issued documents are apostilled by that state's Secretary of State. Federal documents — such as FBI background checks and certain USCIS or IRS documents — are generally apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, depending on the document type and eligibility.
What if my destination country isn't part of the Hague Convention?
If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, or if the Convention is not yet in force between the U.S. and that country, the document typically requires embassy or consular legalization rather than an apostille. Confirm the required authentication route with the receiving authority.
Does an apostille expire?
An apostille itself does not expire, but some receiving authorities may require a recently issued certified copy of the underlying document. Confirm recency requirements with the requesting authority.
Can documents be mailed in for apostille?
Yes, from any of the 50 states. Completed apostilles are returned by mail or courier. International shipping is also available.
Official HCCH status table: hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41
For apostille processing to any Hague Convention country, contact Miami Dade Apostille or start your order online.
A Note on Legal Advice: Miami Dade Apostille is not a law firm, and our team does not include attorneys. This page is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.
Related Services
Apostille Services
- Government Document Apostille
- Corporate Document Apostille
- Court Document Apostille
- Marriage Certificate Apostille
- Birth Certificate Apostille
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Power of Attorney Apostille
- Academic Apostille
- Florida Document Apostille
- US Apostille Processing
- Apostille Requirements by Country
- Pricing & Fees