What is the difference between Apostille, Notary Public, and Legalization?

In a nutshell, an apostille is a certificate issued by the State that authenticates the official who has signed your documents.  An apostille does not authenticate the contents of the documents.  A Notary Public is a public official commissioned by the State to serve as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official acts related to the signing of important documents (Example: Special Power of Attorney, Agreements, Travel Consent letter, etc…)  Legalization is a term used in the process of legalizing documents for countries who are not member of the Hague Apostille Convention.  For example, if you need to legalize your documents for China, they will need to be processed through the State, US Department of State in Washington DC, and the China Embassy.

To view a list of countries we can legalize documents for, click the following link: Embassy Consulate Legalization

Here is an example of the legalization process:

There are currently 117 countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.  In the United States, every state and the U.S. Federal Government can issue an apostille.  We have provided an example of every apostille here: Apostille Examples

National Apostille, Inc. can obtain an apostille for countries who are member of the Hague Apostille Convention and we can legalize documents for countries who are not.  Embassy Consulate Legalization

Obtaining an apostille 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 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.