WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a form of international certification that verifies a document is authentic and legally valid for use in another country. It’s used between the 91 countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention, including the United States and Italy.

If you’re applying for Italian citizenship through descent, getting married abroad, studying overseas, or handling legal matters in another country, you may need one or more apostilles.

Why Apostilles Matter

Most governments outside the U.S. won’t accept U.S.-issued documents—like birth or marriage certificates—unless they’ve been apostilled. It’s a way for the receiving country to know that the document was genuinely issued by an official authority and hasn’t been altered.

Without an apostille, even an official document might be considered invalid or incomplete when used internationally.

What an Apostille Looks Like

An apostille isn’t just a stamp or sticker—it’s a separate page attached to your document, usually with a grommet or staple. It includes:

• The name of the country issuing the apostille

• The name and title of the person who signed the document

• The seal or stamp of the issuing office

• A date and official reference number

When You Might Need One

Apostilles are commonly required for:

• Birth, marriage, or death certificates

• Divorce decrees or name changes

• FBI background checks

• Notarized affidavits

• Naturalization records

If you’re submitting these documents abroad—especially for citizenship, residency, or legal recognition—you’ll likely need them apostilled.

Not All Documents Qualify for Apostilles

You can’t apostille just any piece of paper. To qualify, your document must:

• Be an original or a certified copy issued by an official source

• Contain a valid signature or seal from a recognized authority

• Come from a country that participates in the Apostille Convention

📌 Photocopies or scanned documents cannot be apostilled unless properly certified.

If you’re unsure whether your document is eligible, we’re happy to help you verify before getting started.

How Apostilles Are Processed

Apostilles are issued by specific government offices in the U.S., depending on where your document came from and what kind it is. Each office has its own forms, fees, and turnaround times — and the process can vary quite a bit from one state to another.

Because of these variations, handling it on your own often means wasting time researching, mailing things to the wrong place, or waiting longer than expected.

Skip the Headaches — We Handle It For You

If you'd rather not spend your time sorting through state websites, instructions, and return envelopes, we offer a streamlined apostille service that takes the guesswork out of the process.

You send us the document — we take it from there.

👉 Fill out this form to get started and let us handle the rest.