If the destination country is part of the Hague Convention, you'll require apostille services.
Non-Hague Convention Member Country:
If the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention, you'll need document authentication and
legalization services. This typically involves authentication of the signatures by the originating jurisdiction,
followed by document legalization at the consulate or embassy of the destination country. The US Department of
State Authentication may also be necessary in this process.
Example:
Affidavit, Copy of Articles of Organization, Agency Agreement, Business Letter, Agency Agreement, Power of Attorney.
Notarization: The Apostille process for company documents begins with notarizing the individual’s signature
on the document. A notary public verifies the identity of the signatory and confirms their willingness to
sign.
Certification by Secretary of State: After notarization, the notary’s signature and seal undergo
certification by the Secretary of State's office in the state where the notary is commissioned. This
certification validates the authenticity of the notary’s authority and signature.
Document issued by Federal Agency
Example:
Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG), Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (CPP), FBI Background Check, USPTO Trademark Certificate, Certificate of Environmental Protection Agency.
Documents issued by federal agencies, such as the Patent and Trademark Office or the Comptroller of the
Currency, undergo the Apostille process as follows:
Obtain the Document: Retrieve the document from the federal agency, either as a digital file or a paper
file.
Certification: Once the document is obtained, it is certified by the federal agency to validate its
authenticity.
Apostille by U.S. Department of State: Following certification, the document undergoes Apostille by the U.S.
Department of State in Washington, D.C. This Apostille confirms the validity of the document at the federal
level, making it suitable for international use.
