Apostille Defined

The Apostille of the Hague is a stamp that proves that a document obtained in a country is true and, therefore, must be recognized and accepted as valid in another.

The apostille process consists of placing on an official document, or an extension thereof, an Apostille or annotation that will certify the authenticity of the signature of the public documents issued in a signatory country of the XII Hague Convention, of October 5 1961, which abolishes the requirement of legalization of foreign public documents that must take effect in another signatory country.

Thus, documents issued in a signatory country of the Convention that have been certified by an Apostille must be recognized in any other country of the Agreement without the need for another type of authentication.

List of States Signatories to the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961.

The stamp of the apostille – or apostille – may vary in design, size or color between countries. The essential for its validity is that it be placed by a competent authority according to the laws that regulate this issue in each one of the signatory countries of the Hague Convention or that adopted that treaty later.

Which documents can be apostilled?

Are subject to apostille civil registration documents, for example, birth certificates, marriage, divorce, death or single. It also applies to notarial documents, certifications of level of study, academic diplomas and university degrees. Likewise, the certifications of business registers, patents, court orders and judgments, and any other document issued by an authority or public official can be added.

On the other hand, administrative documents referring to a customs or commercial activity can not be apostilled, nor those issued by consular agents.