Apostille & embassy legalization service without the hassle

Apostille, authentication and embassy legalization — handled end-to-end in a single order.

Documents notarized in:

For use in

+1-202-661-8111 +1-202-661-8111

1M+ travelers served Your documents are in safe hands 20+ years of expertise Hague Apostille & non-Hague legalization

Simple 3-step process

How document apostille works — from notarized paperwork to embassy-ready

Skip the government phone trees and shipping runs. We orchestrate every authority involved and ship your legalized documents back to you.

Place your order

Use our guided wizard to tell us where your document was notarized and where it's headed. We instantly show the exact chain of authentications required.

Forward documents

Mail us your notarized originals with a prepaid label. We handle all state offices, the U.S. Department of State, and the destination country's embassy.

Receive legalized docs

Get your fully apostilled or legalized documents back, tracked and ready for official use abroad. Real-time status updates every step of the way.

Why AuthenticationHQ

Why choose our apostille service

Two decades of relationships with state offices, federal agencies, and embassies — translated into speed you can actually see.

Expedited turnaround

Priority handling on every major government channel. Rush service available for urgent deadlines.

Secure chain of custody

Tracked shipping, insured transit, and audit-logged handoffs between every government authority.

Dedicated experts

Call center, live chat, and a personal advisor who actually knows your destination country's quirks.

Itemized, transparent pricing

Every government fee, shipping cost and service charge itemized up-front. No surprises between quote and delivery.

What is legalization?

What is document legalization?

Document legalization is a form of authentication that foreign governments require in order for your paperwork to be accepted across their borders.

Depending on the destination, this could mean a single Hague apostille — or a full multi-step chain through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's embassy.

Every country has its own requirements, and they change often. Our wizard figures out the exact path for you, so there's no guesswork, no rejected documents, and no second trip to the notary. Contact VisaHQ.

Hague Apostille Embassy legalization Authentication & translation

Documents we frequently legalize 9 common types

Academic documents, such as degrees and diplomas
Birth and marriage certificates
Divorce decrees
Business contracts
Certificates of Incorporation
Certificates of No Impediment
Documents issued by British Overseas Territories
Export certificates
Religious documents, such as baptism certificates

Behind the scenes

Behind embassy legalization: 3 authorities, one provider

Document legalization for non-Hague countries frequently involves your state government, the federal government, and the destination country's embassy. Each has its own forms, fees, and turnaround. We shuttle your paperwork between every step.

Step 1

State government

State-level authentication from the Secretary of State in the jurisdiction where your document was notarized or issued.

Step 2

Federal government

U.S. Department of State authentication for documents that require federal-level verification before going abroad. Federal-issued documents, such as FBI or FDA certificates, start at this step.

Step 3

Embassy legalization

Final legalization by the destination country's embassy or consulate to make the document officially valid there.

Common questions

Apostille FAQ — straight answers, no fine print

The most common questions we get about apostilles, authentication and embassy legalization.

How much does apostille or embassy legalization cost?

The fee depends on the document, the issuing state and the destination country. You see a complete, itemized quote — government fees, our service fee and shipping — before you commit.

What’s the difference between an apostille and embassy legalization?

An apostille is a single certificate that’s accepted by all 120+ Hague Convention countries. Embassy legalization is required by countries outside the Hague Convention — it adds a federal-level authentication and a stamp from the destination country’s embassy. Tell us where the document is going and we’ll tell you which path applies.

How long does apostille or embassy legalization take?

Apostilles typically take 5–10 business days; embassy legalization runs 2–4 weeks depending on the country. Expedited options are available in most states and at the U.S. Department of State. You’ll see a firm timeline before you commit.

Do I need to send the original document, or is a copy allowed?

You need to send either the original notarized document or a Certified Copy — a copy made and notarized by a local notary, which is then accepted by your state’s Secretary of State or at VisaHQ offices. Plain scans or photocopies without notarization are not accepted. If you don’t have an original, we can help you obtain one.

Is my document safe with AuthenticationHQ?

Every document is tracked from the moment it leaves your hands until it’s back in them. We ship via insured couriers, log each hand-off and never leave documents unattended. VisaHQ has handled millions of originals since 2003 without incident.

Do you work with corporate clients on bulk apostille?

Yes. Our business team handles bulk corporate authentication — export certificates, Powers of Attorney, Certificates of Incorporation, FDA certificates — with dedicated account managers, invoicing and custom SLAs. VisaHQ for Business ›

What is an apostille?

Apostille (French for “Certification”) is an internationally recognized verification mechanism. Apostilles certify a document for all 110+ nations who have ratified the Hague Convention, the same way that notarization certifies a document for all 50 US states. It provides a standardized, global framework for authenticating documents across national governments.

So what does “apostille” mean?

Apostille — a stamp or printed form consisting of ten standard numbered fields:

Country
This public document has been signed by
Acting in the capacity of
Bears the seal/stamp of
Certified at
Date
Number
Seal/stamp
Signature

Apostilles prove to foreign governments that your documents are genuine.

Is notarization of the document necessary for apostille?

Yes — the document will need to be notarized before being sent to your state’s Secretary of State for the apostille, or to any of our VisaHQ locations.

Will a translation of the documents be needed (if being sent to a non-English speaking location)?

Yes in certain instances. Some countries require translations of the document from the local language to English, others might not. Please refer to the listed requirements for the country you will be using the documents in for more information.

What kinds of documents can be apostilled?

The most common types are contracts and licenses — business contracts, export licenses, birth/death certificates, and marriage licenses. Records such as birth certificates, university transcripts, deed pools, name changes, and passports are also commonly apostilled.

Can apostilled documents expire?

No, the apostille itself does not expire. However, many countries will only accept documents that have been apostilled within a certain timeframe, so check the destination country’s requirements before ordering.

Our office

AuthenticationHQ in the United States

Our Washington, DC headquarters sits minutes from the U.S. Department of State and every major embassy. Drop off documents in person, ship them to us, or reach the team through whichever channel is easiest.