While the terms apostille and legalisation are used interchangeably by many people, the two processes are actually quite different. Choosing the wrong process could render your documentation unusable in the country where you intend to present it.

An apostille and embassy legalization is a form of authentication that certifies public documents made in one country for use in another. Apostilles are only available to countries that are signatories to The Hague Convention of 1961. Legalisation, on the other hand, is a more involved process that enables the certification of public and official documents for use in countries that are not signatories to the convention. The embassy or consulate in your destination country will typically issue additional stamps to the document as part of this legalisation process.

Apostille vs. Embassy Legalization: Key Differences Explained

For a document to be authenticated for use in a foreign country, it must first be certified by the state where it was notarized. The Department of State Authentication Office can issue this certification, also known as an apostille or certificate of authentication, for public documents that were signed by a New York state official or county clerk.

The apostille process is simple, fast and cost-effective for most types of documents. It can be done online or in person at the Walk-In Counter. A credit card is required for payment, and a photo ID must be presented when picking up the completed documents. The cost for an apostille is $8, regardless of the number of documents or whether they are federal or state-level documents.