Authentications and Apostilles
General Information About Apostilles
An apostille is a certificate issued by the Ohio Secretary of State that verifies the signature and seal of an Ohio official or notary public. It makes public and private documents legally valid for use in other countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention.
Apostilles and authentications cannot be used inside the United States. However, only documents issued by an Ohio official or notarized by an Ohio notary public can be apostilled by the Secretary of State’s office.
Apostille vs. Authentication
What Is an Apostille Used For?
An apostille is issued for documents that will be used in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention. Once issued, it is ready for immediate international use.
What Is an Authentication Used For?
An authentication is issued for documents going to countries that are not part of the Hague Convention. These may require additional verification from the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, before they can be used abroad.
Visit the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications to confirm what additional steps, if any, are required.
How Do I Know if a Country Accepts an Apostille?
You can view the list of countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention on the official Hague Conference website. If your destination country is not listed, you will need an authentication certificate instead of an apostille.
Effect of an Apostille
An apostille verifies the authenticity of the signature or seal on a public document, or the official capacity of the person or authority who signed it.
An apostille does not confirm or validate the content of the document or add legal weight to the underlying information. It only confirms that the signature or seal on the document is authentic.
Useful Resources
For related information and official guidance, visit: