In many cross-border situations, legal documents need to be authenticated before they can be accepted as valid for use overseas. This process can be complex, but a 1961 international convention abolished much of the complexity by replacing it with a streamlined procedure known as an apostille.
An apostille for embassy legalization is a stamp or certificate attached to a document that certifies the authenticity of the signatures on that document. It is a very important part of the embassy legalization proces,s and it can significantly reduce the chance that your document will be rejected by the governing agencies or official institutions of foreign countries where you are going to present it.
Apostille for Embassy Legalization: When and Why You Need It
The Department of State Authentication Office is responsible for certifying the authenticity of public documents and certificates signed by New York State officials or by County Clerks. You can find out whether your document needs an apostille or full legalization by checking the Hague Conference website to see if your country of destination is a signatory.
For countries that are not part of the Hague Convention, you need to get your document legalized by the Consulate in that country before it can be used in that country. This is a similar process to an apostille, but it can take considerably longer.