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Hague Convention on Legalization of Foreign Public Documents


DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn About the Hague Legalization Convention

Q. I have a document which has the seal of a notary, state or federal official in the United States. What do I need to do to be able to use this document overseas?

A. The document must be authenticated for use abroad. This is also called legalization of the document. Authentication means that a seal is placed on the document which will be recognized in the foreign country where the document will be used.

Q. How do I get the document authenticated or legalized?

A. That depends on whether the country where the document will be used in a party to a treaty on this subject called the "Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents".

Q. What procedures should be followed if the Hague Legalization Convention does not apply?

A. If the country is not a party to the Hague Convention, see our general information on Authentication of Documents for Use Abroad available via our home page.

Q. What is a Public Document under the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. For the purposes of the Convention, public documents include:

  1. documents issued by a state court;
  2. administrative documents;
  3. documents executed before a notary public;
  4. official certificates which are placed on documents signed by persons in their private capacity, such as official certificates recording the registration of a document or the fact that it was in existence on a certain date and official and notarial authentications of signatures.

Q. Where does the Hague Legalization Convention apply?

A. The Hague Legalization Convention is in force in the following countries. But see the next question regarding how the change of status of a country affects treaty obligations. Click on the name of the country for specific information about the competent authority to issue apostille certificates and other details on how the Hague Legalization Convention works in that country.

Extended to:

Extended to:

Extended to:

Extended to:

  • UNITED STATES

Extended to:

Q. Where can I find the text of the Convention?

A. See 527 U.N.T.S. 189, T.I.A.S. 10072, 20 I.L.M. 1405, 1407, Martindale-Hubbell Law Director, Law Digest Volume, Selected International Conventions or see the web site for the Hague Convention on Private International Law .

Q. How can I keep track when new countries join the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. The easiest way to find out whether a new country has become a party to the Hague Legalization Convention is to check out the web site on the Internet for the Hague Conference on Private International Law at http://www.hcch.net/ for up to date information about recent accessions to the Convention. The U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs home page and U.S. State Department Authentications Office home page are updated periodically after the Government of the Netherlands notifies the United States that a new country has deposited its instruments of accession to the Convention.

Q. Does a change of status of a country affect whether the Hague Legalization Convention is still in force?

A. This is a complex question. The following notes may assist you in understanding how the change of status of a country can affect treaty obligations.

  1. When the Hague Legalization Convention first entered into force, many countries declared that the treaty also applied in foreign dependencies which have since declared independence We have requested the assistance of the Hague Conference on Private International Law to confirm whether these countries continue to consider themselves bound by the treaty.
  2. In accordance with Article 34(1) of the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties, the U.S. view is that when a country which is a party to a multilateral treaty or convention has dissolved, the successor state(s) inherit the treaty obligations of the former government, consistent with Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties. However, as a practical matter, the custom is for depositaries to expect a notice of succession to confirm that the new entity is performing its treaty obligations. Many newly independent states may not really be implementing such conventions at this time in that they may not be performing the functions set forth in the Convention. We continue to work with these governments and the depositories to obtain confirmation that the respective successor state is complying with treaty obligations.
  3. On September 4, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) deposited an instrument of accession to the Convention. The Convention was to have entered into force for the USSR on April 1, 1992. Prior to that date, the USSR dissolved. Three members of the Newly Independent States (NIS), the Russian Federation, the Belarus Republic and Armenia have informed the depositary for the Convention that the Convention applies in those jurisdictions. We have requested the assistance of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in ascertaining from the other NIS countries whether they are applying the Convention. Even if other NIS countries were to consider the Convention to apply, it may not be operational. Each jurisdiction must designate an authority competent to issue the Convention certificate (apostille) before the Convention can be operational. It may be wise to have documents prepared for use in jurisdictions which have not yet designated an authority competent to affix the Convention apostille in two sets, one using the apostille and one using the chain authentication method, including the seal of the foreign embassy or consulate if possible. Local authorities in such jurisdictions may question the validity of the apostille due to lack of familiarity with the certificate. In addition, the some states, for example, the Russian Federation, have declined to affix the Convention apostille to administrative or commercial documents. Such documents would have to be authenticated using the chain authentication method.
  4. Former Yugoslavia was a party to the Convention. Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia have informed the depositary that they consider the Convention to apply and have designated a competent authority to issue the Convention certificate (apostille). The names of the competent authorities designated by the remaining segments of former Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) continue to be listed in this flyer as a point of reference.

Q. How does the Hague Legalization Convention make dealing with documents between countries easier?

A. The Convention simplifies the old "chain" authentication procedure which requires multiple seals to be place on documents, by eliminating many links in the chain. Documents which have the special Hague Legalization Certificate are acceptable in other countries where the treaty is in force without any other authentication.

Q. What certificate is used under the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. If you have a document you want legalized for use in another country which is also a party to the treaty, a special certification called an "apostille" must be affixed to the document by a competent authority. The apostille is a pre-printed form prescribed by the Convention. See a copy of the apostille certificate in Volume 7, Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual, Section 847.2 (Exhibit) on the State Department Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) site. On that site, select Foreign Affairs Regulations, and then, 7 FAM - Consular Affairs. You may also go to the web site for the Hague Convention on Private International Law . See also, Digest, United States Practice in International Law, 1981-1988, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, Vol 2, 1548 (1994); Ristau, International Judicial Assistance, Civil and Commercial, International Law Institute, Vol 1, Section 6-2-6 (1995).

Q. Is there a fee for the Apostille Certificate?

A. Fees vary depending on where the certificate is issued. Fees are subject to change without notice. For federal documents authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, the fee is $5.00 (effective January 1, 1997). See references to fees under specific countries and U.S. states noted below.

Q. Who are the U.S. "Competent Authorities" to issue the apostille certificate?

A. There are three levels of U.S. competent authorities, one for Federal agencies, one for U.S. (federal) courts, and one for state documents, including documents executed before notaries.

1. Federal Executive and Administrative Agencies: Authentications Office, Department of State, 518 23rd St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5002 Fee: $5.00. For additional information, call the Federal Information Center: 1-800-688-9889, and choose option 6 after you press 1 for touch tone phones. Walk-in service is available from the Authentications Office from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday-Friday, except holidays. Walk-in service is limited to 15 documents per person per day (documents can be multiple pages). Processing time for authentication requests sent by mail is 5 working days or less. See also, the State Department home page : http://www.state. See also in general, 22 C.F.R. 131.

2. U.S. Courts: Clerks and Deputy Clerks of the Federal Court System. Fee: $5.00.

For the purposes of the Convention, clerks and deputy clerks of the U.S. Courts shall include the clerks and deputy clerks of the following: The Supreme Court of the United States, the Courts of Appeals for the First through the Eleventh Circuits and the District of Columbia Circuit, the United States District Courts, the United States Court of Claims, the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, the United States Court of International Trade, the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone, the District Court of Guam, the District Court of the Virgin Islands, and the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.

3. States, Territories and Other Jurisdictions: Each state and other jurisdiction in the United States (District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam)

Q. How can I contact that Competent Authorities to issue the Apostille Certificate in Each State or other Jurisdiction in the United States?

A. Click here for the name, address and telephone number of the Competent authority and fee information.

Q. Where Can I Read More About the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. This is a selected list of references which may be helpful.

Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Addendum (Section 4, paragraphs 304.1-304.7) to Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures (Vol. IV, Ch. 3).
American Bar Association, The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Report of the Committee on the International Unification of Private Law, with Action by the Section of International Law and the House of Delegates); 9 International Lawyer, No. 4, 755 (l975).
Amram, Toward Easier Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents; 60 American Bar Association Journal, 310, (1974).
Apostilles: Jet-Age Authentication, Nat'l Notary Mag., 10, 14 (July 1996).
Apostilles: Authenticating Documents for Use in Foreign Countries, Am. Notary, 7 (Apr. - June 1997).
Authentication: Proving Your Powers: The Time-Saving "Apostille", The National Notary, 24-25, January (1990)
Clerk's Manual, United States Disrict Courts,Vol 1, Section 17.06 - Apostilles.
Deukmejian, United States: State of California Attorney General's Opinion on the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, 21 I.L.M. 357, 362 (1982)
Deukmejian, California Attorney General's Opinion No. 88-802, January 5, 1989, 89 Daily Journal D.A.R. 148 (recordability of an apostille in the French language).
Griew, Hague Draft Convention on the Legalisation of Foreign Documents and the Form of Wills, 8 Int'l and Comp. L.Q. 559 (1959).
Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, Patent and Trademark Review 39, January (l982).
Harvey, The United States and The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, 11 Harv. Int'l. L.J. 476 (1970).
Lowry, Doc. 6, Critical Documents Sourcebook Annotated, International Commercial Law and Arbitration 157 (1991).
Meszaros, Notarial Services Provided by U.S. Consuls, 33 American Notary, No. 2, 1, 9 (1998).
Nash-Leich, The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, 76 Am. J. Int'l L. 182 (1982).
Pfund, P.H., Chapter, "Legalization of Documents for Use Abroad" in The International Lawyer's Deskbook, edited by Lowe, Norton and Drory, ABA (Section of International Law and Practice) 1996, ISBN 1-57073-166-7.
Ristau, International Judicial Assistance (Civil and Commercial), Vol. 1, International Law Institute, Washington, D.C., Sec. 6.1-1 - 6-2-7, 241-256 (1995).
Sherry, Old Treaties Never Die, They Just Lose Their Teeth: Authentication Needs of a Global Community Demand Retirement of the Hague Public Documents Convention, 31 John Marshall Law Review 1045 (1998).
Sinnott, A Practical Guide to Document Authentication: Legalization of Notarized and Certified Documents 464 (1997).
Untangling the Red Tape of Authentication, The National Notary, 34-35, January/February (1981).
Zamora and Brand, II Basic Documents of International Economic Law, 845-854, (1990).

Q. Who Can I Talk to If I Have Questions About the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. Responsibility for the Hague Legalization Convention is shared by various offices in the U.S. Department of State. Contact the office responsible for the issue in which you are interested.

  1. How to Authenticate a Federal Document in the United States - U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office: 1-800-688-9889 (Option #6).
  2. How to Get a Foreign Document Authenticated for Use in the United States - U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services, American Citizens Services and Crisis Management - (202) 647-5225.
  3. How to interpret the Hague Legalization Convention - U.S. Department of State, Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Policy Review and Inter-Agency Liaison, (202) 647-3666.
  4. Negotiation History - U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, Private International Law.

Q. Where Can I Find The State Department's Publications About the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. We have information available via our home page on the Internet, our automated fax service and by mail.

Internet Resources

U.S. State Department Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov

Authentications Office home page at http://www.state.gov/

Office of the Legal Adviser, Treaty Affairs home page at http://www.state.gov/

Q. Where can I find the Hague Conference on Private International Law information about the Hague Legalization Convention?

A. Hague Conference on Private International Law home page on the Internet is http://www.hcch.net/

State Authentication Authorities

Alabama
Office of the Secretary of State
Authentication Section
State Capitol, Room E-204
600 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-242-7210
http://www.sos.state.al.us/authenticate/index.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State

Alaska
Notary Administrator
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 110015
Juneau, AK 99811- 0015
907-465-3509
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/notary/authentications.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Clerk of the Supreme Court

Arizona
Office of the Secretary of State
Business Services Division, Notary Section
1700 W. Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888
602 542-4086/ 602 542-4758
http://www.sosaz.com/notary
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State.

Arkansas
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
State Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201-1094
501-682-3409
http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/business.html
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy Secretary of State.

California
Office of the Secretary of State
Business Programs Division
Notary Public Section
P.O. Box 942877
Sacramento, CA 94277-0001
916-653-3595
http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; any Assistant Secretary of State; any Deputy Secretary of State.

Colorado
Office of Secretary of State
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-2680
http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/2001fees.htm
Fee: By Mail: $2.00 While You Wait: $17.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Connecticut
Office of the Secretary of State
Authentication Unit
30 Trinity St.
Hartford, CT 06106
860-509-6135
http://www.sots.state.ct.us/recordslegislativeservices/authen.html#orders
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Delaware
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
401 Federal St., Suite 3
Dover, DE 19901
302- 302/739-4111
http://www.state.de.us/sos/sos.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Acting Secretary of State.

District of Columbia
Office of the Secretary, D.C.
Notary Commissions & Authentications Section
441 4th St. N.W. (One Judiciary Square)
Washington, D.C.
202-727-3117
http://os.dc.gov/info/notary/notary.shtm#document
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Executive Secretary; Assistant Executive Secretary; Mayor's Special Assistant and Assistant to the Executive Secretary; Secretary of the District of Columbia.

Florida
Department of State
Office of International Affairs
Notary Certification/Apostille Section
The Capitol Building
Suite 1902
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250
804-488-7521
http://notaries.dos.state.fl.us/notproc7.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State

Georgia
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
Notary Division
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
404-327-6023
http://www2.gsccca.org/projects/apost.html

or

Office of Secretary of State
Administrative Procedures Unit
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite 820 - West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404-656-2885
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/administration/notary.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

Hawaii
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
State Capitol, 5 th Floor,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
808-586-0255
http://www.state.hi.us/ltgov/page8.html
Fee: $1.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii.

Idaho
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Department
Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
208- 332-2810
http://www.idsos.state.id.us/notary/apostill.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State; Notary Public Clerk.

Illinois
Office of the Secretary of State
Index Department, Notaries Public Division
111 E. Monroe St.
Springfield, IL 62756
217- 217-782-7017
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/index/division.html
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Indiana
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Suite 201
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6532
http://www.in.gov/sos/notary/seal.html
Fee: no charge
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

Iowa
Office of Secretary of State
Lucas Building
First Floor, Public Service
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-5204
http://www.sos.state.ia.us
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

Kansas
Office of Secretary of State
State Capitol
Second Floor
Topeka, KS 66612
913-296-2744
http://www.kssos.org
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State; any Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

Kentucky
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602-0178
502-564-7330
Fee: $5.00
http://www.kysos.com
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State.

Louisiana
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
504-342-4981
Fee: $5.00
http://www.sec.state.la.us/comm/comm-index.htm
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.

Maine
Office of Secretary of State
Bureau of Corporations
Elections and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
207-624-7650
http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/rcn/notary/authapos.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Maryland
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-974-5520
http://www.sos.state.md.us/sos/certif/html/certif2c.html#apos
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.

Massachusetts
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Public Records Division
Commissions Section
McCormack Building, Room 1719
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
617-727-2832
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/pre/precom/comidx.htm
Fee: $3.00

Michigan
Department of State
Office of the Great Seal
7064 Crowner Boulevard
Lansing, MI 48918
517-373-2531
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/1,1607,7-127-1638_8734---,00.html
Fee: $1.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Minnesota
Secretary of State's Office
180 State Office Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-2803
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/uccd/authinfo.html
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Mississippi
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 136
Jackson, MS 39205-0136
601-359-1615
http://www.sos.state.ms.us/busserv/notaries/notaries.html
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; any Assistant Secretary of State.

Missouri
Office of Secretary of State
Commission Division
600 West Main, Room 367
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-2783
http://www.sos.state.mo.us/business/commissions/certify.asp
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Montana
Office of Secretary of State
Room 225
Box 202801
State Capitol
Helena, MT 59602
406-444-5379
http://sos.state.mt.us/css/index.asp
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy Secretary of State; Government Affairs Bureau Chief.

Nebraska
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
Box 95104
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-2558
http://www.sos.state.ne.us/Notary/notauth.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Nevada
Secretary of State
101 N. Carson Street, #3
Carson City, NV 89701-4786
775-684-5708
http://sos.state.nv.us/notary/apostille.htm
Fee: $20.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Chief Deputy Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

New Hampshire
Office of Secretary of State
Statehouse
Room 204
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-3242
http://www.state.nh.us/sos/certific.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

New Jersey
Department of State
Notary Public Unit
Division of Commercial Recording
PO Box 452
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-530-6421
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/dcr/programs/notary.html
Fee: Regular Service: $25.00 Expedited Service: $35.00
Designated Authority: NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue

New Mexico
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol North Annex, Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87503
505-827-3600
http://www.sos.state.nm.us/notary-cert.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State

New York

  • Upstate Counties
    Miscellaneous Records
    162 Washington Ave.
    Albany, NY 12231
    518-474-4770
    http://www.dos.state.ny.us
    Fee: $10.00
    Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Executive Deputy Secretary of State; any Deputy Secretary of State; any Special Deputy Secretary of State.

  • Down State Counties
    New York authorities in Albany advise that documents issued in the nine down state counties are authenticated under the Convention by the New York City office. The nine down state counties are New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Richmond. The address of the New York Department of State, Certification Unit is 6th Floor, 270 Broadway, New York, New York 10007, tel: 212-417-5684. Fee: $10.00

North Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
Authentication Division
PO Box 29622
Raleigh, NC 27626-0622
919-807-2140
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/authen
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

North Dakota
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept 108
Bismarck, ND 58505
701-328-2900
http://www.state.nd.us/sec
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Ohio
Office of the Secretary of State
30 East Broad St.
15th Fl.
Columbus, OH 43266-0418
877-767-6446
http://www.state.oh.us/sos/authentication_of_documents_stat.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State.

Oklahoma
Office of Secretary of State
2300 N. Lincoln
Room 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-4211
http://www.sos.state.ok.us
Fee: $25.00 (cashiers check or money order)
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State; Budget Officer of the Secretary of State.

Oregon
Office of Secretary of State
255 Capitol St.
Suite 151
Salem OR 97310
503-986-2200.
http://www.filinginoregon.com/notary/index.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State; Acting Secretary of State; Assistant to the Secretary of State.

Pennsylvania
Department of State
Bureau of Commissions
Elections and Legislation
North Office Building
Room 304
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-5280
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/certifications/certifications.html
Fee: $15.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of the Commonwealth; Executive Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Rhode Island
Office of Secretary of State
Notary Division
100 N. Main St.
Providence, RI 02903
401-277-1487
http://www.corps.state.ri.us/notaries/notaries.htm
Fee: $5.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; First Deputy Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

South Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 11350
Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2119
http://www.scsos.com/notariesbc.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State

South Dakota
Office of Secretary of State
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5077
605-773-5004
http://www.state.sd.us/sos/Notaries/apostilles_and_authentications.htm
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State

Tennessee
Office of Secretary of State
James K. Polk Building
Division of Business Services
312 Eighth Avenue North
6th Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-3699
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/service.htm#apostilles
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State.

Texas
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 12079
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-5705
http://txsos-7.sos.state.tx.us/authfaqs.shtml
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State

Utah
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
210 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84145-8414
801-538-1040
http://governor.state.ut.us/lt_gover/internationaltemplate.html
Fee: Certifying Notary's Seal: $10.00 Apostille: $5.00
Designated Authority: Lieutenant Governor; Deputy Lieutenant Governor; Administrative Assistant.

Vermont
Office of Secretary of State
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05609-1103
802-828-2308
http://www.sec.state.vt.us
Fee: $2.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

Virginia
Office of Secretary of Commonwealth
Authentications Division
830 East Main Street, 14th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-2441
http://www.soc.state.va.us
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of the Commonwealth; Chief Clerk, Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth.

Washington
Office of the Secretary of State
Corporations Division
Apostille and Certificate Program
PO Box 40228
Olympia, WA 98504-0228
360-586-2268
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/apostilles
Fee: $15.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State; Director, Department of Licensing.

West Virginia
Office of Secretary of State
Capitol Building
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
 No. 157-K
Charleston, WV 25305-0770
304-558-6000
http://www.wvsos.com/execrecords/other/authentication.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Under Secretary of State; any Deputy Secretary of State.

Wisconsin
Office of Secretary of State
P.O. Box 7848
Madison, WI 53707-7848
608-266-3159
http://badger.state.wi.us/agencies/sos/authen.htm
Fee: $10.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Assistant Secretary of State.

Wyoming
Office of Secretary of State
The Capitol
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
307-777-5342
http://soswy.state.wy.us/authenti/authenti.htm
Fee: $3.00
Designated Authority: Secretary of State; Deputy Secretary of State.

American Samoa
Office of the Governor
Pago Pago, AS 96799
011-684-633-4116
http://www.amsamoa.com
Designated Authority: Secretary of American Samoa; Attorney General of American Samoa.

Guam (Territory of)
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 2950
Agana, GU 96910
011-671-472-1537
http://www.admin.gov.gu/doa
Designated Authority: Department of Administration

Northern Mariana Islands (Commonwealth of the)
Designated Authority: Attorney General; Acting Attorney General; Clerk of the Court, Commonwealth Trial Court; Deputy Clerk, Commonwealth Trial Court
http://www.saipan.com/gov

Puerto Rico (Commonwealth of)
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Office of Notarial Inspection
P.O. Box 190860
San Juan, PR 00919-0860
787-763-8816
http://www.lexjuris.com/lexnotaria.htm
Designated Authority: Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
7 & 8 King St.
Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 00802
340-774-2991
http://www.ltg.gov.vi/Departments/Administration/index.html
No authority designated: refer requests to the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office, 2400 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520. 202-647-5002

FOREIGN CENTRAL AUTHORITIES

Andorra: Entered into force for Andorra 12/31/96. Competent Authority: On December 13, 2001, Andorra advised that the competent authorities to issue the certificate in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1 are:

  1. El Ministre d'Afers Exteriors
  2. El Ministre de Justícia i Interior

All legalization requests are centralized through the following address:

Ministeri d'Afers Exteriors
Prat de la Creu
Edifici del Govern
Andorra la Vella
Principat d'Andorra

Tel.: 376-875-700
Fax: 376-869-559
E-mail: exteriors.gov@andorra.ad

Angola: Now Independent. No confirmation issued by Angola that Convention is deemed to apply. On October 22, 1969, Portugal extended Convention to Angola. Portugal declared the competent authority to be the Governor General ("Les Gouverneurs generaux ("Governadores Gerais"). Current Competent Authority Unknown.

Anguilla: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla which entered into force April 25, 1965. Antigua achieved independence on November 1, 1981 as Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda declared on May 1, 1985 that it considered itself bound by the Convention effective the date of independence. Extended by the United Kingdom to Anguilla February 24, 1965. Competent Authority: the Governor of Anguilla.

Antigua and Barbuda: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Antigua which entered into force April 25, 1965. Achieved independence in 1981 and Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda declared that it considers itself bound by the Convention. Competent Authority: a. Governor-General, Antigua-Barbuda; b. Registrar of the The High Court; High Street; St. John's, Antigua, West Indies; tel: 809-462-3147

Argentina: Entered into force 2/18/88. Competent Authority: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto, Reconquista 1088, 1003 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Armenia: Entered into force 8/14/94. Competent Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice

Australia: Entered into force 3/16/95. Competent Authority: Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Commonwealth

Austria: Entered into force 1/13/68. Competent Authority: 1. Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bundesministerium fur auswartige Angelegenheiten; 2. The Presidents of any Civil Court of First Instances, with the exception of the Commercial Court (Handelsgericht) of Vienna and the Juvenile Court (Jugendgerichtshof) of Vienna, or their representatives authorized to issue the apostille; 3. The Governors of the Provinces (Landeshauptmanner); 4. Governments of the Provinces (Landesregierungen)

Bahamas: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Bahamas which entered into force April 25, 1965. Bahamas achieved independence on July 10, 1973. On April 30, 1976 the Bahamas declared that it considered itself bound by the Convention effective the date of independence. Competent Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Hill Street, P. O. Box N-3746, Nassau, Bahamas, tel: (242) 328-4145. The minister with responsibility for the Central Authority is the Honorable Frederick A. Mitchell, MP. The Permanent Secretary at the Central Authority is Mrs. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter.

Barbados: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Barbados which entered into force April 25, 1965. Barbados achieved independence November 30, 1966. By a note of August 1995 to the depositary, the Government of Barbados declared that it considers itself bound by the Convention effective the date of independence. Competent Authority: 1. Solicitor-General; 2. Deputy Solicitor General; 3. Registrar of the Supreme Court of Barbados Law Courts, Bridgetown, Barbados, tel: 809-42-75537; 4. The Permanent Secretary - Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport; 5. The Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport

Belarus: Entered into Force May 31, 1992. Competent Authority: Ministry of Justice (judicial/court documents); Ministry of National Education(educational documents); Committee for Archives and Administration (state archives documents); Ministry of Foreign Affairs (all other documents)

Belgium: Entered into force 2/9/76. Competent Authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Cooperation in Development (Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, du Commerce exterieur et de la Cooperation au Developpement)

Belize: Entered into force 4/11/93. Competent Authority: The Registrar General

Bermuda: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Bermuda which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: On October 17, 1968 the competent authority was declared to be the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bermudas or Somers Islands or any member of his staff signing on his behalf and using his official seal.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Entered into Force: December 20, 1991. Competent Authority: By Note dated 17 August 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina informed the depositary of the following:

"(...) the authorities designated by Bosnia and Herzegovina who are competent to issue the certificate referred to in the first paragraph of Article 3 of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents concluded at The Hague on 5th October 1961, are Municipal Courts in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republic of Srpska. These certificates shall be subject to certification by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Minstry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Botswana: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Bechuanaland Protectorate which entered into force April 25, 1965. The Bechuanaland Protectorate achieved independence September 30, 1966 as Botswana. On September 16, 1968, Botswana declared that it considered itself bound by the Convention effective the date of independence. Competent Authority: 1. Permanent Secretary; 2. Registrar of the High Court; 3. District Commissioner; 4. Any person appointed or empowered to hold a subordinate court of the first class; 5. Such other person as the President may appoint by notice in the Gazette.

British Virgin Islands: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the British Virgin Islands which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority:

Registrar of Courts
Tortola, BVI
Phone: 284-494-3492
Fax: 284-494-6664

Brunei: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Brunei which entered into force April 25, 1965. Brunei achieved independence January 1, 1984. Brunei declared that it considers itself bound by the Convention December 3, 1987. Competent Authority: Chief Registrar, Deputy Chief Registrar and Registrars of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam; Chief Magistrate, Magistrates and Registrars of subordinate Courts of Brunei Darussalam.

Bulgaria: Entry into force April 29, 2001. Competent Authority: Ministry of Justice regarding documents of the courts and notaries; Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding other documents.

Cayman Islands: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to the Cayman Islands which entered into force April 25, 1965. Competent Authority: declared October 17, 1968 to be the Governor of the Cayman Islands

China, Hong Kong S.A.R. ONLY: Entered into force 6/3/97 in accordance with an exchange of diplomatic notes. Applies only to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Convention is not/not in force for other jurisdictions in the People's Republic of China. Competent Authority: Registrar, Supreme Court; Deputy Registrar or Assistant Registrar, Supreme Court; and Deputy Chief Secretary, Supreme Court, Registrar, Hong Kong Supreme Court, 38 Queensway, Hong Kong, tel: (852) 2825-4254. See Hong Kong SAR.

Colombia: Entered into force January 30, 2001. Colombian Competent Authority to Issue Apostille:

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Oficina de Legalizaciones
Doctor Carlos Guillermo DIAZ BUITRAGO
Transversal 17A, NO. 9-45
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
tel: (1) 525-1862, 525-1860, 522-3697

Comoros Islands:> Now Independent. No formal confirmation that Convention is deemed to apply. When France extended its accession to the Convention to the Comoros Islands (Moroni), the competent authority to affix the Convention "apostille" certificate was the General Procecutor of the Republic at the High Court of Appeal at Moroni (le Procureur de la Republique pres le Tribunal Superieur d'appel de Moroni.)

Croatia: Entered into force October 8, 1991. Competent Authority: Municipal courts or the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Republic of Croatia

Cyprus: Competent Authority: Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Cyprus

Czech Republic: Signed the Convention June 23, 1998; ratified the Convention January 8, 1999. Entered into force: May 1, 1999. Competent Authority: Designation of the competent authorites to issue the certificate in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1: 1. the Ministry of Justice, International Department (certificates issued by authorities of justice, including certificates issued or certified by notaries); 2. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Department (documents issued by authorities of State Administration or by the other ones).

Djibouti: Now Independent. No confirmation issued by newly independent country that Convention is deemed to apply. When France extended its accession to the Convention to the Affars and the Issas (now Djibouti), the competent authority to affix the Convention "apostille" certificate was the General Procecutor of the Republic at the High Court of Appeal at Djibouti (le Procureur de la Republique pres le Tribunal Superieur d'appel de Djibouti.) Current Competent Authority: Unknown.

Dominica: No confirmation issued by newly independent country that Convention is deemed to apply. On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdom extended the Convention to Dominica which entered into force April 25, 1965. Dominica achieved independence November 3, 1978 and became the Commonwealth of Dominica. Competent Authority: Unknown.

El Salvador: Competent Authority:

Minisisterio de Relaciones Exteriores de El Salvador
Departamento de Tramites Registrales
Seccion Autenticas y Apostillado
Plan Maestro Centro de Gobierno
17 Ave Norte
Edificio 4, 1er Piso
San Salvador, El Salvador
Cost: No fee
Tel: 271-3266 x 2138 or 231-1336/1337

Estonia: Accession - December 11, 2000; Entry into Force - October 1, 2001. Designation of the competent authorities to issue the certificate in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 1:

1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Legal Division, Consular Department, Islandi väljak 1, 15049 Tallinn, phone +372 6317 440, fax +372 631 7454;
2. Estonian Ministry of Education, Administrative Department, Room 104, Tönismägi 11, 15192 Tallin, phone +372 6 281 243, fax +372 6 281 390;
3. Administrative Department, Munga 18, 51007 Tartu, phone +372 7 350 252, fax +372 7 350 250;
4. Monitoring Department, Munga 18, Tartu, phone +372 7 350 231, fax +372 7 350 250;
5. Ministry of Justice, Courts' Department, Tartu mnt 85, Room 103, 10115 Tallinn, phone +372 612 7810, fax +372 612 7811;
6. Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Administrative Department, Legal Services office, Lai 40 , 10133 Tallinn, phone +372 612 5199, fax +372 5198;
7. Ministry of Social Affairs, Public Relations and Training Department, Gonsiori 29, 15027 Tallinn, phone +372 626 9875, fax +372 699 2209.

Falkland Islands: On February 24, 1965, the United Kingdo