Federal documents, and state documents headed to non-Hague countries
We handle federal documents for any destination. We also handle state documents, but only when the destination country has not joined the Hague Convention, since that routes through embassy legalization rather than a state apostille.
Federal documents, any destination
Federal documents are eligible for a U.S. Department of State apostille (Hague destinations) or authentication and embassy legalization (non-Hague destinations), no matter where they are headed.
FBI background check (Identity History Summary)
- Send the original FBI Identity History Summary. A No Record result still qualifies.
- Do not have it notarized. Notarizing it causes rejection.
- We authenticate the document you provide. We do not order or obtain the background check for you.
IRS document (for example Form 6166)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
USCIS document (for example a certified naturalization or citizenship certificate copy)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
National Archives (NARA) record
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. federal court document
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
USPTO document (patent or trademark)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
FDA certificate (for example Certificate to Foreign Government)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
Other federal document (describe)
A federally issued document, eligible for apostille or authentication at the U.S. Department of State.
State documents, only for non-Hague destinations
State documents go through state authentication, then U.S. Department of State authentication, then embassy legalization. We handle this quoted process only when the destination country has not joined the Hague Convention. If your destination country is a Hague member, a state document instead needs a single state apostille, which is a different service that we do not offer.
Birth, marriage, or death certificate
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
Diploma or transcript
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
State background check
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
State court document
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
Notarized affidavit or power of attorney
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
Business or corporate document
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
Other state document (describe)
A state issued document. We handle this when it is headed to a non-Hague country, priced by quote as part of our embassy legalization service.
Federal versus state documents
The United States has two separate issuing systems. Federal documents, such as an FBI background check or an IRS letter, are issued by a federal agency. State documents, such as a birth certificate, a diploma, or a notarized power of attorney, are issued at the state or county level. Which system issued your document does not by itself decide whether we can help. What matters is where the document is going.
Hague versus non-Hague destinations
If a federal document is going to a Hague Convention country, the U.S. Department of State issues an apostille and no further steps are needed. If a federal document is going to a non-Hague country, it receives an authentication instead, followed by embassy legalization, which we also handle, priced by quote.
State documents follow the same destination-based rule. Headed to a non-Hague country, a state document needs state authentication, federal authentication, and embassy legalization, all of which we handle as a quoted order. Headed to a Hague country, a state document instead needs a single state apostille from that state's own office, which is not a service we offer. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.