Apostille & International Document Authentication | Multistate Apostille Co.

We coordinate apostille and international document authentication services for individuals, families, and businesses across all 50 states and federal agencies.

Documents We Handle

Academic Records, Birth Certificates, Court Documents, FBI Background Checks, Marriage Certificates, Powers of Attorney — processed from any U.S. state or federal issuing authority.

Service Levels & Turnaround

Express — For time-sensitive requests. Turnaround from 2–4 business days. Starting at $335.
Priority — A balance of speed and efficiency. Turnaround 5–7 business days. Starting at $275.
Standard — Best value for flexible timelines. Turnaround 8–10 business days. Starting at $195.

Volume pricing available for 25 or more documents. Actual processing times may vary based on government office and jurisdiction timelines.

All 50 States & Federal Documents

We assist with documents issued throughout all 50 states, including state-issued, notarized, and federally issued documents, and route each item through the appropriate authentication channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an apostille?: An apostille (pronounced uh-pah-steel) is a certification issued by a designated government authority that verifies the authenticity of a public official's signature on a document intended for use in a foreign country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention. Similar to how a notary public verifies a signer's identity and signature, the issuing authority verifies the authenticity of the public official who signed the document before it can be recognized internationally. For countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille helps streamline international document recognition by eliminating the need for additional embassy or consular legalization in many cases.
What does an apostille look like?: In the United States, the appearance of apostille certificates varies from state to state. Some apostilles are issued entirely in black and white, while others contain colored seals, backgrounds, or security features. While the appearance and formatting may differ by jurisdiction, the underlying apostille certificate model remains generally consistent. Apostilles are issued as a separate certificate attached to the original document and contain standardized authentication information recognized internationally under the Hague Apostille Convention. Formatting differences may include different fonts and layouts, decorative or security-style borders, raised embossed seals, colored rubber stamps, digital seals or verification markings, and QR codes or online authentication identifiers. Many modern apostilles also contain a unique verification number that allows the receiving authority to confirm the validity of the apostille through an official government database.
Why do clients use a professional apostille service?: Working with a professional apostille service from the beginning provides clients with support managing important timelines before they become critical deadlines. Many clients contact us after attempting the process independently and discovering that authentication requirements are often more nuanced than expected. Authentication requirements vary significantly depending on the issuing state, document type, and destination country. Incorrect notarial certificates, non-exemplified record types, jurisdictional mismatches, or submission errors can lead to delays or rejection.
How long does the apostille process take?: Processing times vary depending on the issuing state, document type, destination country requirements, and whether federal authentication or embassy legalization is involved. Some documents can be processed within days, while others may require several weeks depending on government turnaround times and international procedures. We offer multiple processing options ranging from standard service to expedited processing for certain jurisdictions and document types. We provide estimated timelines before intake and communicate status updates throughout the process.
Do you handle apostilles for all 50 states?: Yes. We assist clients with apostille and authentication requests involving documents issued throughout the United States, including state-issued records, notarized documents, and federally issued documents. Many clients have document sets originating from multiple states and agencies at the same time. Rather than coordinating separate submissions independently, clients can send their documents to us and we route each item through the appropriate state, federal, and consular authentication channels as required.
My destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. What do I do?: If the destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents require additional legalization. After state-issued documents are certified at the state level, they are submitted to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for federal authentication. Federally issued documents, such as FBI background checks, typically bypass the state-level process and proceed directly to federal authentication. Once federal authentication is completed, the documents must be presented to the destination country's embassy or consular office in the United States for final legalization. We help clients determine the correct authentication pathway before documents are submitted for processing.