Immigration & relocationPractical guide · updated for 2026
How to Get an Apostille for Your Documents
An apostille certifies the signature and seal on a public document for use in another country that joined the Hague Convention. Get the document notarised or certified first, then apply to the authority your country designates.
Have this ready
- The original document, correctly certified
- The destination country's requirement in writing
- The competent authority's form and fee
Step by step
- 1Confirm the destination country accepts apostilles and not consular legalisation instead.
- 2Check which document the receiving authority wants, such as a birth certificate or a notarised copy.
- 3Have the document notarised or certified by the correct official in your country.
- 4Find the designated competent authority, often the foreign ministry or a state office, and read its current fee and process.
- 5Submit the original with the required form and payment, by post or in person as allowed.
- 6Check the apostille covers the right signature and that names and dates match the document.
- 7Send it by tracked delivery and keep a scanned copy before it leaves your hands.
Want it done with you?
I can walk you through it in a Magic Box, show you the exact clicks, or do it with you and keep the recording. You log in yourself; I never see your password.
Common questions
Does an apostille expire?+
The apostille itself does not usually expire, but the receiving authority may require a recently issued document.
Can I apostille a photocopy?+
Only if the copy is properly certified or notarised first, and the authority accepts that route.
What if the country is not in the Hague Convention?+
You need consular legalisation through the destination's embassy, which is a different and slower process.