Embassy / Consul Document Legalization is a process of authenticating documents for use in a country who is and who is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This is a more complex process than the simple Apostille or Certification issued by the Secretary of State or the US Department of State in Washington, DC.
Apostilles are issued for countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If the destination country is not a member, then a certification will be attached. All US States including the US Department of State (Federal Government) follow the Apostille convention.
The chart to your right helps clarify the steps involved. Please keep in mind that not all documents require notarization and not every country will ask you to complete all the steps displayed. Please Contact Us if you are unsure of what steps the other country is requesting that you take.
Once your documents have been authenticated at the State level, the next step is to have your documents certified at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Our affiliate office is located in this district allowing us to process your documents quickly (1-3 business days).
If your document requires legalization by the Embassy / Consul in Washington, DC, we’ll hand deliver your documents and pick-them up as son as they are complete. Please keep in mind any fees associated with legalizing your documents at the Embassy / Consul office is an additional fee.
Click to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.
