National Apostille – Blog

New York Apostille

April 24, 2020 by admin

Do you need New York Apostille Services?

The most common documents we can apostille from our NYC apostille office are: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, notarized documents, national archives records, diploma and transcripts, background checks, and more!

New York is the only state that requires County Clerk issued documents to also be certified by the County Clerk (Exemplification) before the NY Department of State will attach the apostille. 95% of all documents received at our NYC office will require these two steps.

There are 62 Counties in NYC. Most of the documents received at our NYC apostille office originate from the following Counties: Kings County, Queens County, New York County, Suffolk County, Bronx County, Nassau Country, and Westchester County.

A County Clerk exemplification is attached to the original document certifying the official who has signed the document. Here is an example of a New York County Clerk Exemplification.

Below is an example of a New York Department of State apostille authenticating the official who has signed the County Clerk exemplification.

Here is typically what’s included in a New York Apostille:

Country … [country name] This public document
has been signed by … [name]
acting in the capacity of … [function]
bears the seal/stamp of … [authority] certified
at … [location]
the … [date]
by … [name]
No … [apostille registration number]
Seal/stamp … [of the authority giving the apostille]
Signature … [signature of authority giving the apostille]

Obtaining an apostille can be complicated and time-consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470 or email: support@nationalapostille.com

Click the PDF download image to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

China Embassy

April 19, 2020 by admin

Do you need to legalize your documents through the China Embassy in Washington, D.C.?

We provide China Embassy document legalization services. Our services include China Embassy legalization, attestation, certification, and authentication.

China is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). Documents being sent to this country requires Secretary of State certification, U.S. Department of State certification, and China Embassy legalization. This three step process is necessary in order for the country of China to accept your documents. We currently process documents through the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-800-903-2470
Email: China@nationalapostille.com

Here is an illustration to help explain the three-step process:

The most common documents we can certify and legalize for China are:

Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Death Certificates
Divorce Decree
Single Status Affidavit
Background Checks (Local, State, FBI for China)
Power of Attorney
Notarized Documents
Copy of Passport
Copy of Driver License
Transcripts
Diplomas
Authorization Letter
Travel Consent Letter
Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Good Standing
Certification of Free Sale
Certification of Origin
Corporate Power of Attorney
Commercial Invoice

Please Note: We can only help you with documents originating from or notarized within the United States. If your documents originated from China, you will need to contact the correct competent authority to assist you in that country.

Certifying documents can be complicated. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 8am to 7pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

Click the PDF download image to get started. Our document legalization service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Diploma Apostille

March 29, 2020 by admin

Do you need to apostille your diploma?

Are you are planning to continue your education in a foreign country? Have you applied for a job and your future employer has asked for you to apostille your diploma?

In order to apostille a diploma, it must be signed and notarized by the Registrar. The notary will need to meet with the Registrar at the University, College, Trade School, or High School.

We can apostille the following diplomas:

Master’s Diploma
Bachelor’s Diploma
College Diploma
High School Diploma
GED Diploma

The most popular countries we apostille and legalize diplomas are for:

Step #1: The first step is to contact the University’s Registrar and inform the Registrar that you will need the original or a color copy of your diploma to be signed and notarized. The Registrar with either ask for you to mail in the original or email a color copy. Some schools may request that you purchase a new diploma. If the University does not have a notary on staff, a traveling notary can visit the school and meet with the Registrar. You can search online and arrange for a local traveling notary service. Most notaries are unfamiliar with authenticating a diploma for another country so it’s best to leave the apostille process to us. The notary must follow the proper notarial laws of their State and include the correct notarial wording.

Typically, a diploma can be notarized in several ways:

The Registrar attests to the diploma with a written or typed statement and the notary witnesses the signature of the Registrar. For example: “I, Jane Doe, Registrar of ACME University, certify that this is a true and original copy of John Walters Master’s diploma”. In most cases, the notarization is performed on the back of the diploma to allow space for the statement, Registrar’s signature, and the notarization.
The second and less frequent option is for the University to draft a signed and notarized University letterhead with a statement and signature of the Registrar including the notaries seal, signature, and notarial wording.

Please be sure to contact our office as some countries will request the original diploma to be notarized rather than a color copy. For example, Qatar will request the original diploma to be signed and notarized.

Step #2: The second step is to mail in your notarized diploma with our completed order forms to our office. We have created an order form and credit card authorization form for every US State.

Click the PDF download image to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Certificate of Non-Impediment for Marriage Apostille

March 19, 2020 by admin

Do you need to apostille a Certificate of Non-Impediment for Marriage?

Are you planning to get married in another country and you have been told to obtain a Certificate of Non-Impediment for Marriage?

A Certificate of Non-Impediment for Marriage is an official Certification that the City Clerk’s Office has no information that would be an “impediment” to your getting a Marriage License. If you are planning to marry in another country, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Non-Impediment.

Some countries and County Clerk office in the U.S. may also refer to this document as:

No Record of Marriage
Certificate of Freedom to Marry
Single Status Affidavit
Certificate of No Record – Marriage
Affidavit of Single Status
Affidavit of Marriageability
Certificate of No Public Record

In the United States a certificate of non-impediment for marriage is commonly referred to a single status affidavit.

Here is an example of a single status affidavit:

The first step is to contact the local County Clerk’s office to request a document that states you are currently not married (AKA: Single Status). Some County Clerk offices may refer to this document as a “no record of marriage” instead of a “single status”. Most all County Clerk offices can provide you this document so please be sure to speak to a supervisor if you are told otherwise. A document issued from the County Clerk’s office does not require notarization.

If the County Clerk is unable to assist you and you are in the United States, you can use the sample above to write your own single status affidavit. Basically, you are writing a sworn statement stating that you are currently not married to another person in the United States. Be sure to have this document signed and notarized before you mail it in to our office. You should also check with the people requesting your single status if they will accept a sworn affidavit directly from you.

If you are outside of the United States, the local US Embassy or US Consulate office should be able to assist you in completing a single status and also having it signed and notarized. Because you will be visiting U.S. Federal Government office, this document can then only be apostilled through our Washington DC apostille office.

Here is an example of US Embassy or US Consulate Single Status Affidavit:

Note: If you have been divorced in the United States, you will also be told to obtain an apostille on your divorce decree.

Click the PDF download image to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Apostille FBI Background Check

March 18, 2020 by admin

Do you need to apostille your FBI Background Check?

Have you already obtained your FBI background check within the past 90 business days? If yes, you are ready to submit your document to our Washington DC office for processing. If no, then the first step is to contact an FBI Channeler or the FBI directly. We can provide you a list of recommend FBI Channelers when you contact our office.

Some countries may request for your background check to be issued within the past 30 days. Please double check with the requesting country before you send us your documents. Also, some countries may request a State issued background check. All Hague Apostille countries and non-members will accept your FBI background check.

Please note that an FBI background check does not require notarization. Also, this document can only receive an apostille through our Washington DC apostille office.

If you have received your FBI background check in a digital format (PDF copy) from the FBI Channeler or FBI, go ahead and email it to us with the completed order form and payment. If you have received your FBI background by regular mail (Hard copy), go ahead and mail it to our Washington DC office with our order forms. We can process a digital PDF copy or a hard copy. It’s your choice.

Processing time: 4 business days (Estimated)
Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Free Return Shipping: FedEx priority overnight by 10:30 AM (Estimated)
Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-800-903-2470
Email: FBI@nationalapostille.com

Download our order forms:
FBI Apostille Order Form (PDF Format)
FBI Apostille Credit Card Authorization Form (PDF Format)

We also recommend that you download the following forms:
Schedule of State and U.S. Federal Fees (PDF Format)
Schedule of Embassy and Consulate Fees (PDF Format)
State Jurisdiction Forms (PDF Format)
Translation Request Form (PDF Format)

Obtaining an FBI apostille can be complicated and time-consuming. Don’t leave this process to untrained employees or non-professionals who do not fully understand the apostille process and the unique requirements of certain countries. Your paperwork could be rejected costing you time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Click the PDF download image to get started. Our apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.