Apostille application is a service that RON provides to assist with the process of certifying documents for use in foreign countries. The process is a little different than notarization, but the purpose of each remains the same. The difference between an apostille and an authentication certificate is that Apostilles are required for documents going to countries that signed the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (1961). Authentications are used for documents that will be sent to countries that do not subscribe to The Hague Convention.

Apostilles verify signatures and notarial stamps or seals on important documents, such as court orders, contracts, birth certificates, educational diplomas and more. Apostilles are issued by a government agency and guarantee that the signature or stamp/seal on the document is genuine.

When should I get an Apostille?

Generally, an apostille should be applied to any document that will be used in a country that is a signatory of The Hague Convention. However, this is not always the case, so be sure to check with the recipient of your document to make sure they will require an apostille before applying for one.

For documents that will be used in a non-signatory country, a certificate of authentication will be required. This is a different process than an apostille and involves submitting the original document to the Department of State, Authentications Office for certification under their seal. There is a fee associated with this service.