Apostille for Global Business: What You Need to Know

International business expansion requires authenticated corporate documents. Whether you are opening a foreign bank account, registering a subsidiary abroad, entering into international contracts, or applying for foreign business licenses, apostilled corporate documents are typically required. This guide covers the key documents and the process.

Corporate Documents That Commonly Require Apostille

• Certificate of good standing: Confirms the corporation is in good standing with the state. Issued by the Florida Division of Corporations (or the relevant state). Required for foreign bank account openings, business registrations, and contract execution abroad.
• Articles of incorporation / articles of organization: The founding document of the corporation or LLC. Required for foreign business registration and some banking relationships.
• Corporate resolution: Authorizes a specific action — signing a contract, opening a bank account, appointing a representative. Must be notarized before apostille.
• Power of attorney: Authorizes a representative to act on behalf of the company in a foreign country. Must be notarized before apostille.
• Operating agreement / bylaws: May be required for foreign business registration. Must be notarized before apostille.

Florida Corporate Documents

Florida corporate documents — certificates of good standing, articles of incorporation — are apostilled by the Florida Secretary of State. Miami Dade Apostille can obtain these documents from the Florida Division of Corporations and apostille them in a single coordinated process.

Federal Corporate Documents

Some international transactions require federal-level authentication — particularly for documents that will be presented to foreign government agencies. These are apostilled by the US Department of State. Miami Dade Apostille coordinates federal apostilles through our Washington, DC agent network.

Non-Hague Countries

If your business is expanding into a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention — such as the UAE, Qatar, or Kuwait — apostille is not accepted. Embassy legalization (consular legalization) is required instead. Learn about embassy legalization.