Apostilles: When and Where Do You Get Them?

When are apostilles necessary?

You'll need an apostille if, in addition to both countries being party to the Apostille Convention:

• The country where the document was issued considers it to be a public document.
• The country in which the document will be used requires an apostille in order to recognize the document as a foreign public document.

Some countries may not require apostilles for certain documents. If you're not sure whether an apostille is required, you may need to as the recipient of you document whether it will be necessary.

Where to get apostilles

As a requirement of the Apostille Convention, member countries must designate one or more authorities to issue apostilles. These are known as Competent Authorities and only they are allowed to issue apostilles.

If a country has more than one Competent Authority, you'll need to determine which of these is appropriate for your situation. The Apostille Section of the Hague Conference website (www.hcch.net) provides contact information for most Competent Authorities.

For example, the Hague Conference website shows that the Designated Competent Authority for the United Kingdom is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the Legislation Office.

Of course, you may also choose to use a service company such as CLAS to obtain your apostilles if you prefer not to spend the time doing it yourself.

Additional matters to consider when you request an apostille include:

• Whether you can request the apostille by mail, or if you'll need to request it in person.
• If you have multiple documents, whether you'll need multiple apostilles.
• Whether you'll need additional documents (proof of your identity, a stamped envelope for requests by mail, etc.).
• How much the apostille costs and accepted forms of payment. Some Competent Authorities do not charge for apostilles. Others do charge, and prices vary greatly.
• How long it will take for you to get the apostille.