An Apostille is an official certificate issued by a government authority that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. An Apostille verifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, or stamp on the document. It does not verify or certify the contents of the document itself.

An Apostille is used for documents destined for countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention.

If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention, your document may require an Authentication Certificate and additional legalization through the appropriate embassy or consulate.

If you’re unsure which process applies to your document, Notarizing Tampa™ is happy to help determine the appropriate authentication process.

No.

Notarizing Tampa™ is not a government agency and does not issue Apostilles.

We provide professional Apostille Facilitation Services by assisting clients with document preparation, notarization coordination, certified translation coordination when needed, government submissions, tracking, and the secure return of completed documents.

Common documents include:

• Birth Certificates
• Marriage Certificates
• Death Certificates
• Divorce Decrees
• Powers of Attorney
• School Diplomas & Transcripts
• FBI Background Checks
• Adoption Documents
• Court Documents
• Corporate Documents
• Business Agreements
• Affidavits
• Notarized Documents

Requirements vary depending on the document type and the destination country.

The answer depends on who issued your document. Generally:

• Documents issued by the State of Florida require a Florida Apostille. The same goes for other states.
• Documents issued by a federal agency, such as an FBI Identity History Summary (Background Check), require a Federal Apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State.

If you’re unsure, Notarizing Tampa™ can help determine which process is appropriate.

Processing times vary based on:

• The issuing authority
• Whether a state or federal Apostille is required
• Government processing times
• Shipping methods selected
• Seasonal workload

Because all Apostilles are issued by government agencies, Notarizing Tampa™ cannot guarantee processing times or delivery dates.

It depends on the document.

Some documents require an original certified copy issued by the appropriate government agency, while others require notarization before becoming eligible for an Apostille.

We’ll help determine exactly what is needed before your documents are submitted.

Yes.

Notarizing Tampa™ assists clients with obtaining Federal Apostilles for FBI Identity History Summary Checks.

Federal Apostilles are processed through the U.S. Department of State and follow different procedures than Florida-issued documents.

Yes.

If your destination country requires certified translations, Notarizing Tampa™ partners with professional certified translation providers to facilitate the translation process as part of your document authentication needs.

Absolutely.

Many of our clients live in other states or outside the United States and need assistance obtaining Florida Apostilles or Federal Apostilles for U.S.-issued documents.

Most of the process can be coordinated remotely through secure communication and shipping.

No.

Acceptance of documents is determined solely by the receiving country’s government, embassy, consulate, educational institution, employer, or other requesting authority.

While Notarizing Tampa™ works diligently to facilitate a smooth Apostille process, we cannot guarantee acceptance by any foreign government or receiving agency.

We are happy to explain the Apostille process and help determine the appropriate submission procedures based on the information you provide. However, we cannot provide legal advice or determine whether an Apostille satisfies the legal requirements of another country or agency.

If you have legal questions regarding your document’s use, you should consult the requesting authority or a licensed attorney.

No!

Once an Apostille has been attached to your document by the issuing authority, do not remove the staple, separate the pages, laminate the document, or alter it in any way.

Removing the staple or separating the attached pages may invalidate the Apostille and require the entire authentication process to be completed again. Always keep the Apostille certificate securely attached to the document exactly as it was issued.