Apostilles & Certifications
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An apostille (pronounced uh · paa · stil) is a certification issued by a designated authority to verify the authenticity of a public official’s signature on a document for use in a foreign country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
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The country in which you will use the document determines the type of certificate you need:
An apostille is used when public documents are being transferred between countries that are a party to the Hague Apostille Convention and require no further diplomatic or consular legalization.
Authentication certificates are used for destination nations that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention and may require further diplomatic or consular legalization before being sent overseas.
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Yes. We handle apostilles for federal documents — including FBI Background Checks — and hand-deliver all submissions to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. to significantly reduce turnaround time. If you submit the request yourself by mail, processing can take between two and three months!
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Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are part of the United States, so documents issued for use in another U.S. state or jurisdiction are ineligible for an apostille. Apostilles are only issued for use in foreign countries.
In some cases, county clerk certification may be sufficient, but not all documents qualify. In Pennsylvania, notarized documents can no longer be certified by the county clerk as of December 1, 2025 and instead require certification by the Department of State.
We can help determine the correct certification and assist with the process. Contact us for additional information or schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation.
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Turnaround can be as quick as next business day where applicable, or the standard 10-12 business day timeframe. Our Standard Apostille service starts at $150 for the first document and $65 for each additional.
Detailed pricing is in our fee section further down on this page.
Contact us for additional information or schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation for a detailed quote and timeline based on your needs.
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We provide apostille and certification services for all U.S. states, the Federal Government, U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico), and the District of Columbia. No matter where your document was issued, we can assist you with the process.
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Yes, absolutely. We provide apostille and certification services for vital documents issued in all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico), and the District of Columbia. Whether your birth certificate is from Colorado, your marriage certificate from Virginia, or your children’s birth certificates from New Hampshire, we can assist with all of them.
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In many cases, yes; however, birth and death certificates are often restricted and may only be requested by the individual or an immediate family member.
While a power of attorney may be accepted, it can significantly delay processing depending on the issuing authority.
We can guide you through the most efficient approach if you require certified originals.
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It depends. The document must be electronically notarized by a notary commissioned in a state that allows apostilles for remotely notarized documents (e.g., Pennsylvania, New York, Montana, etc.).
If your document was previously notarized by a notary in a state that does not allow apostilles for remotely notarized documents, such as Wisconsin or Minnesota, for example, it would need to be electronically notarized again.
We can assist you with this process and ensure your electronic documents qualify for an apostille.
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Before sending your documents, we’ll first review them to ensure everything is in order.
Customers in Philadelphia may schedule an appointment to drop off original documents in person.
We can also provide a prepaid shipping label for secure delivery, or arrange a courier pick-up for added convenience.
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You may pick up your completed documents in person by appointment at our Philadelphia locations.
We can also ship them — ranging from standard delivery to priority overnight — to you or directly to a designated third-party recipient. Courier delivery can also be arranged for added convenience.
What Does a Pennsylvania Apostille Look Like?
This example shows a Certification of No Record of Marriage, commonly referred to internationally as a Certificate of Single Status. This document was obtained on the client’s behalf through our document ordering service and fully exemplified, including certification by the Register of Wills and the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court of Philadelphia County. It was then certified in Harrisburg, where the apostille was affixed, signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and issued with the Great Seal. The apostille also includes a unique identifier that can be verified online by the receiving authority.
The total cost and turnaround time depend on several factors, such as the type(s) of document(s), the state(s) or jurisdiction(s) involved, the number of documents requiring authentication, the service level chosen, and any additional requirements like document ordering services, notarial services, county clerk certification, translation, or consular legalization.
Pricing and turnaround times start at:
Standard Apostille Service (7-10 business days):
Starting at $195Priority Apostille Service (5-7 business days):
Starting at $255Express Apostille Service (3–5 business days):
Starting at $315
In certain situations, we may also be able to provide Rush service with next-business-day turnaround.
Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to determine the most cost-effective and efficient solution for your needs.
