An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature of a public official on a document for use in another country. It is a simplified certification of public documents to be used in countries that have joined the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961. The apostille ensures that public documents issued in one signatory country will be recognized as valid in another signatory country without the need for further legalization.
An apostille certifies the document(s), so the document can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. It authenticates the signature of the public official who signed the document, the capacity in which that public official acted, and when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears, e.g. a notary public seal.
Apostilles are issued by the U.S. Department of State for federally-issued documents to use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. State-issued documents for use in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention must be authenticated by the Secretary of State.
To obtain an apostille, the document must be signed by a California public official or an original notarized and/or certified document. The requester can obtain an apostille by mail, via drop box in Sacramento, or in person in Los Angeles. The document must be notarized in front of a notary public before submitting it for an apostille.
