Apostille Verification and Electronic Registers

What apostilles look like

Some parts of an apostille are required by the Apostille Convention:

• An apostille should be identified as an apostille.
• It should include the short version of the French title of the Apostille Convention.
• It should include a box with 10 numbered standard information items. For example:

Other informational items are optional:

• An apostille can provide information about the public document to which it relates, warn that it only certifies the origin of the public document, provide a URL of a register where the origin of the apostille can be verified, or warn that the apostille is not to be used in the country that issued it.
• Design, color and size of apostilles can vary considerably. Although an apostille is expected to conform as closely as possible to the model provided by the Apostille Convention, apostilles do not all look alike.

How recipients of a document can verify an apostille

To verify a particular apostille, the recipient can contact the Competent Authority. Contact information may be found listed in the Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website (www.hcch.net).

Rejection of apostilles

If apostilles are not issued in accordance with the requirements of the Apostille Convention, they can be rejected.

Electronic apostilles and electronic registers of apostilles

The Apostille Convention allows Competent Authorities to issue apostilles in electronic form, known as e-apostilles. Competent Authorities are also allowed to maintain electronic registers of apostilles (e-registers.)

In fact, many Competent Authorities are developing e-apostilles and e-registers as suggested by the Permanent Bureau (Secretariat) of the Hague Conference under the electronic Apostille Pilot Program (e-APP.) You can find out more about it here http://www.hcch.net/upload/e-app5_bernasconi.pdf.

Need help with apostilles or legalizations?

Understanding when you need an apostille and what it takes to get one can involve many steps. If you need to go through the legalization process instead, the complexity increases considerably.

If you'd like assistance with your apostille and legalization needs, you can contact CLAS at 1.800.952.5696, or on our website, www.clasinfo.com.