An apostille is a seal that certifies the authenticity of a document, like a birth certificate or marriage license.
Apostilles are required by many countries, including the United States. If you’re traveling internationally and need to present documents with an apostille, you can get them from the Secretary of State’s office in your state.
The process is simple, but it can take some time. The office has a list of documents that qualify for an apostille, and you can get them by mail or in person. After the documents have been certified, they’re sent to the Secretary of State’s International Unit in Austin, Texas.
An apostille is a stamp that certifies the authenticity of a document, like a birth certificate or marriage license. Many countries require documents to have an apostille before they can be used in official matters. The United States does not require apostilles for most common documents, but there are exceptions.
If you’re traveling internationally with children, obtaining an apostille is a good idea. If your child’s birth certificate or adoption papers aren’t already stamped with an apostille, you’ll have to go through the process on your own.
Once you have the documents, you can apply for an apostille. The process varies depending on where you live. In Texas, there are two options:
1. Submit the documents to the Texas Secretary of State’s office in Austin.
2. Apply for an apostille through a third-party agency
The process is the same whether you choose to submit the documents yourself or have them processed through a third party. You’ll need to fill out an application form and pay for processing fees, which can vary by agency.
If you submit the documents yourself it can take 2-3 weeks for processing. If you use a Austin Texas apostille agency, it could take 24-48 hours to process your documents and get back to you.