State Apostille

How to Apostille Your Driver’s License for a South Korean License: A Step-by-Step Guide

September 22, 2024 by admin

If you’re looking to exchange your driver’s license for a South Korean driver’s license, it’s essential to follow a specific process that includes notarizing and apostilling your documents. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the exchange:

1. Confirm Your Eligibility

To begin the process, ensure you meet the following criteria:

Valid Driver’s License: You must possess a valid driver’s license from your home country.
Residency Requirements: You should hold legal residency or a long-term visa in South Korea, such as an Alien Registration Card (ARC).

2. Gather Required Documents

To successfully apostille your driver’s license, follow these steps:

Notarize a Color Copy of Your Driver’s License:
- Create a color copy of your driver’s license and have it notarized in the state where the license was issued. For instance, if your license is from Texas, the notarization must occur in Texas. Our email will include instructions for the notary public.
- If you’re currently in South Korea, enlist the help of a family member or friend for notarization. Note that some states allow a notary to copy-certify a color copy on your behalf. Please check with the notary in the state your license has been issued in.
Apostille the Notarized Copy:
- Obtain an apostille for your notarized color copy. Download the appropriate order forms from our website, then mail the notarized copy along with the forms for processing. Click the following link to find our forms: Apostille Order Forms
Translation Services:
- South Korean authorities require that the apostille and notarized copy be translated into Korean. Be sure to complete the translation request form included with the order forms.

In addition to the apostilled documents, you may also need to provide:

Passport: Bring your passport (original and copies of the ID page).
Alien Registration Card (ARC): Ensure you have a valid ARC if residing in South Korea.
Passport Photo: Usually 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (check specific district requirements).
Application Fee: Prepare approximately ₩12,500 (around $10) in cash.

3. Visit a Driver’s License Agency

Go to the Driver’s License Examination Office (운전면허시험장) in South Korea. Some police stations handle these exchanges, so it’s best to verify which location serves your area.

4. Submit Your Documents

Present all necessary documents, including your apostilled and translated driver’s license, at the office.

5. Complete a Health Check

Depending on the location, you might be required to undergo a simple health check (vision test) at the Driver’s License Office, which is usually quick.

6. Surrender Your Driver’s License

As part of the exchange, you will typically need to surrender your foreign driver’s license. The South Korean office may keep it until you leave the country.

7. Obtain Your South Korean License

Once all documents are accepted and the process is complete, you will receive your South Korean driver’s license.

Important Considerations:

Reciprocity Agreement: The United States and South Korea have a reciprocal agreement, so you won’t need to take a driving test when exchanging your license.
License Validity: Your South Korean driver’s license may be valid for up to 10 years for residents. If you’re on a short-term visa, the validity may align with your visa duration.

Always check with your local Driver’s License Office in South Korea for any updates on procedures or document requirements specific to your situation.

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

Obtaining an apostille on a driver’s license can be complex and time-consuming. Don’t risk delays or rejection by relying on untrained employees or non-professionals. Trust us to handle your paperwork correctly the first time, saving you both time and money.

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

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

FBI Apostille for Croatia | How to Apostille your FBI Background Check for Croatia

September 10, 2024 by admin

Do you need to apostille your FBI background check for Croatia?

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to Apostille your FBI Background Check for Croatia.

Are you planning on moving to Croatia, obtaining dual-citizenship, getting married, starting a new job, continuing your education, or adopting, you will be asked to apostille your FBI background check.

Croatia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. You may be asked to apostille additional documents (Example: Birth certificates, marriage, etc…), please let us know so we can email you the correct instructions and order forms for each one of your documents.

We can apostille a digital FBI background check in PDF format or the hard copy mailed to your home. If you receive your FBI background check in a digital format, go ahead and e-mail it to us with the completed order form and payment. If you receive your FBI background by regular mail (Hard copy), go ahead and mail it to our Washington DC office with our order forms (see below). We can process a digital PDF copy or a hard copy. It’s your choice.

If you have not obtained your FBI background check, please contact our office so we can recommend an FBI Channeler. Please note that FBI background checks are not notarized and only processed in Washington, D.C.

Documents originating from the U.S. Federal Government are processed directly from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. – Office of Authentications. Our fees are as low as $75 and we also provide FedEx/UPS return shipping at no additional cost!

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)

Obtaining an apostille on an FBI background check for Croatia can be complex and time-consuming. Don’t risk delays or rejection by relying on untrained employees or non-professionals. Trust us to handle your paperwork correctly the first time, saving you both time and money.

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

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

How to Get a New York City Birth Certificate Apostille: Ordering a New NYC Birth Certificate with Exemplification Letter and Apostille

September 8, 2024 by admin

How to Apostille a New York City Birth Certificate: Step-by-Step Guide

Do you need to apostille a New York City birth certificate? In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of ordering a new long-form New York City birth certificate, complete with the required exemplification letter from the NYC Health Department.

This guide is specifically for individuals born in one of New York City’s five boroughs:

Bronx – Bronx County Clerk
Brooklyn – Brooklyn County Clerk
Manhattan – New York County Clerk
Queens – Queens County Clerk
Staten Island – Richmond County Clerk

If your birth certificate was issued outside NYC, you’ll need to contact the County Clerk’s office in the county where it originated to obtain a new certified copy. Exemplification letters are not required for birth certificates outside New York City.

Step 1: Order a New Long-Form NYC Birth Certificate with Exemplification Letter

To begin, order a new long-form birth certificate along with the exemplification letter through VitalChek.com. The long-form version is recommended for apostille services. Detailed instructions are available from the New York City Health Department Birth Records.

Step 2: Submit Your Documents for Apostille Processing

Once you’ve received your NYC birth certificate and exemplification letter, send them to us with our New York order forms for processing. For the most up-to-date information on processing times and availability, please call or email us.

Once we receive your documents, we’ll reach out by phone or email if we have any questions. If everything is in order, we’ll start the process. Please note, NYC birth certificates require County Clerk authentication before the New York Department of State can issue the apostille—this is a two-step process.

If you do not have the exemplification letter or need assistance determining what documents you have, feel free to email us a copy for review.

Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-800-903-2470
Email: NewYork@nationalapostille.com
Download our order forms:
New York Apostille Order Form (PDF Format)

Obtaining an apostille for a New York City birth certificate can be complex and time-consuming. Don’t risk delays or rejection by relying on untrained employees or non-professionals. Trust us to handle your paperwork correctly the first time, saving you both time and money.

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

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

How to Apostille Your California Birth Certificate for Mexico

August 20, 2024 by admin

Do you need to apostille your California birth certificate for use in Mexico?

Two of the most common questions we receive are, “How can I apostille my California birth certificate for Mexico?” and “How long does it take to get an apostille for my California birth certificate?”

If you’re planning to obtain dual citizenship or purchase property in Mexico, you’ll need to have your California birth certificate apostilled. We can apostille birth certificates from all 58 counties in California, as well as those issued by the California Department of Health. We recommend obtaining your birth certificate from the County Clerk’s office in the county where you were born.

The most common counties we process documents from include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, Sacramento, and San Francisco.

Cost: As low as $75 for each apostille.
Office Hours: 8am – 7pm Monday – Saturday
Customer Support: 1-800-903-2470
Email: California@nationalapostille.com

If you already have your birth certificate, simply mail it to our California office along with the completed order forms for processing. If you need a new certified copy, contact the County Clerk’s office for guidance. If you’re in Mexico, we can ship the completed documents to you via FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

Obtaining an apostille for a California birth certificate can be complex and time-consuming. Don’t risk delays or rejection by relying on untrained employees or non-professionals. Trust us to handle your paperwork correctly the first time, saving you both time and money.

Our staff is available Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

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

Power of Attorney Apostille for the Philippines

July 19, 2024 by admin

Do you need to apostille a special power of attorney or a general power of attorney for the Philippines?

On May 14, 2019, the Philippines joined the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents destined for the Philippines no longer requires the red ribbon from the Philippines Embassy or Consulate office. The apostille issued by the Secretary of State is sufficient for the special power of attorney to be accepted in the Philippines.

The most common documents we apostille for the Philippines are:

Special Power of Attorney (SPA)
General Power of Attorney
Revocation of Special Power of Attorney

To confirm this information, the Philippines Consulate in San Francisco states the following:

As both the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America are parties to the Apostille Convention, public documents issued by both countries are duly recognized in each other’s jurisdiction on the basis of the Apostille authenticating the origin of the document.

Please note that Apostilled document/s no longer need additional authentication by the Philippine Consulate General. Once apostilled, the documents may already be used in the Philippines, and be given legal effect.

In order to apostille the special power of attorney, it must first be signed and notarized. Please meet with a local notary public. Once your document has been signed and notarized, go ahead and mail it to our office for processing.

Notarized Documents: Documents notarized in any of the states must include proper notarial wording including the notary’s seal and signature. The notary must include the venue (State and County) including the jurat/acknowledgment statement. All signatures must be original. The notarial wording must be in English. The notary can reference their notary handbook provided by the state for further instructions.

We can apostille documents signed and notarized in every US state. United States Apostille

Here is an example of a Special Power of Attorney for the Philippines. This example was provided by the Philippines Consulate in San Francisco:

Below is an example of a General Power of attorney for the Philippines. This example was provided by the Philippines Consulate in San Francisco:

Obtaining an apostille on a Special Power of Attorney or a General Power of Attorney for the Philippines can be complicated. 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 9am to 6pm to answer your questions and provide you easy to follow-step-by-step instructions. Please call us at 1-800-903-2470.

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