Document Review
We review the document type, issuing authority, notarization needs, and destination country before recommending the correct apostille or authentication path.
Hague & Non-Hague Guidance · Secretary of State Submission Support
Apostille Services: Authenticate for International Use
Documents authenticated for Hague and non-Hague countries. TIP Notary Specialists helps review, prepare, notarize when needed, and submit eligible documents directly to the correct Secretary of State or federal authority for international use.
Hague & Non-Hague Guidance
Secretary of State Submission Support
Tamper-Evident Return Document
Responds Within 2 Business Hours
Apostille Services
Fast Navigation for Apostille Help
Use this page to understand what an apostille does, which requirements apply to Florida documents, whether your destination country is Hague or non-Hague, which documents may qualify, how background checks are handled, and what pricing starts at.
Authenticate for International Use
Apostille: Authenticate for International Use
An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate a public document for use in another country. It confirms the signature, seal, stamp, or authority attached to the document, but it does not verify the contents of the document itself.
Florida Statute § 15.16
Florida law authorizes the Florida Secretary of State to issue apostilles for eligible Florida documents and to establish the requirements and procedures for apostille issuance. The Florida Department of State is the competent authority for Florida apostille and notarial certifications.
Florida law authorizes the Florida Secretary of State to issue apostilles for eligible Florida documents and to establish the requirements and procedures for apostille issuance. The Florida Department of State is the competent authority for Florida apostille and notarial certifications.
Hague & Non-Hague Guidance
Hague countries generally use an apostille. Non-Hague countries may require authentication plus embassy or consulate legalization.
Secretary of State Submission
Eligible state documents can be submitted directly to the correct Secretary of State. Federal documents may require the U.S. Department of State process.
Notarization May Be Required First
Many private documents must be properly notarized before they are eligible for apostille submission. For Florida documents, notarized paperwork should include a complete notarial certificate, the notary's original signature, stamp, and seal when required.
- We review the document before submission.
- We help identify whether mobile notarization or RON is appropriate.
- We explain needed government, shipping, rush, translation, or add-on fees before booking.
Florida Apostille Support
Documents authenticated for Hague and non-Hague countries can involve different processing paths. We help confirm whether your Florida document needs notarization, certified copies, state-level submission, federal authentication, translation support, or embassy legalization.
Requirements depend on the document type, issuing authority, destination country, and whether the receiving country is a Hague Convention member. We review your details before you spend money on the wrong path.
Florida Rules & Official Guidance
Florida Apostille & Notarial Certification Requirements
This section is included so clients can understand why document preparation matters before submission. Florida apostille and notarial certification requirements depend on the document type, issuing authority, notarial wording, destination country, and whether state or federal authentication is required.
Florida Department of State
Florida apostille submissions generally require the original document, an original certified copy, or a certificate of status when applicable. Photocopies are not accepted for Florida authentication processing.
Notarized Documents
Notarized documents should contain a full notarial statement and the original notary public signature, stamp, and seal when required for Florida apostille or notarial certification.
Florida Statute § 117.05
Florida notary fees may not exceed $10 for any one notarial act, except as provided by Florida law. Apostille service, travel, shipping, rush, translation, and government fees are separate.
Florida vs Federal Documents
Florida can authenticate documents issued by a Florida notary or Florida elected or appointed official. Federal documents may need to be processed through the U.S. Department of State.
Hague Convention
The HCCH Apostille Convention replaces traditional legalization between Hague member countries with a single apostille certificate issued by the proper authority.
Official Reference
Clients may also review the HCCH Apostille Convention information for international apostille guidance.
Know Before You Submit
Hague Country vs. Non-Hague Country
The destination country determines the type of authentication your document needs. A Hague member country generally accepts an apostille. A non-Hague country may require additional authentication or embassy legalization steps.
Apostille
If the country where your document will be used is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, your document may receive an apostille from the proper authority. This simplified certificate is generally recognized by other Hague member countries.
- Used for many public documents, notarial acts, administrative documents, and certain court-related documents.
- Issued by the proper state or federal authority based on where the document originated.
- Destination-country requirements should still be confirmed before submission.
SpainFranceGermanyItalyMexicoBrazilIndiaSouth KoreaJapanAustraliaUnited Kingdom
Examples only. Confirm destination-country participation through the official HCCH Apostille Convention information.
Authentication + Embassy Legalization
If the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention, an apostille may not be accepted. The document may require certification or authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization.
- May involve additional steps beyond standard apostille processing.
- Embassy or consulate rules can vary by country and document type.
- Destination-country requirements should be confirmed before submission.
ChinaUnited Arab EmiratesQatarKuwaitEgyptOther non-Hague countries
Document Types
Common Documents That May Need an Apostille
Requirements vary by document, issuing authority, and destination country. TIP Notary Specialists helps review the document type and identify the correct next step.
Vital Records
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce records, and other certified government records.
Background Checks
FDLE background checks, FBI Identity History Summary records, and other state or federal background check documents.
Education Documents
Diplomas, transcripts, enrollment verification, school records, and academic documents for international use.
Legal Documents
Powers of attorney, affidavits, sworn statements, court documents, adoption documents, and notarized legal paperwork.
Business Documents
Articles of incorporation, certificates of status, corporate resolutions, commercial agreements, and business authorizations.
Real Estate Documents
Property documents, deeds, closing-related documents, and notarized records needed for international transactions.
Personal Documents
Name change documents, travel consent forms, immigration-related paperwork, and other personal-use documents.
Translations
Certified translation coordination may be available when the receiving country or agency requires translated documents.
FDLE & FBI Support
Background Check Apostille Guidance
Background check documents can follow different authentication paths depending on whether the record is issued by Florida or by a federal agency. We help clients understand which path applies before submission.
FDLE Background Checks
Florida Department of Law Enforcement background checks may require Florida-level authentication. Requirements depend on the document format, signature, issuing authority, and destination country.
FBI Background Checks
FBI Identity History Summary records are federal documents and may require federal authentication through the proper federal process rather than state-level apostille processing.
How It Works
The Apostille Process
The apostille process is handled step by step so you know what is happening before, during, and after submission.
1
Document Review
We review your document type, issuing authority, destination country, and eligibility requirements.
2
Prepare
We identify whether notarization, certified copies, translation, state handling, or federal handling is needed.
3
Submit
Your document is prepared for submission to the correct state or federal authority.
4
Status Updates
Secretary of State issues Apostille - processing times may vary.
5
Return Delivery
Your apostilled or authenticated document is returned using the selected delivery method.
6
International Use
You receive the completed document for use with the requesting foreign agency, school, employer, court, or authority.
Apostille Pricing
Apostille: Authenticate for International Use
Documents authenticated for Hague and non-Hague countries. Submitted directly to the Secretary of State when state-level processing applies. Pricing depends on document type, notarization needs, destination country, number of documents, government fees, shipping, rush requests, translation needs, and whether state or federal processing is required.
Florida Statute § 15.16
The Florida Secretary of State has sole authority in Florida to establish requirements and procedures for issuing apostilles. State apostille, government, shipping, rush, translation, notarization, and service fees are separate and confirmed before booking.
The Florida Secretary of State has sole authority in Florida to establish requirements and procedures for issuing apostilles. State apostille, government, shipping, rush, translation, notarization, and service fees are separate and confirmed before booking.
Tier 01
Stand-Alone Apostille
For a state or federal document that is already properly prepared and ready to submit.
$250
per document
- Review for apostille submission readiness
- Document preparation guidance
- Hague and non-Hague guidance
- Secretary of State submission support when applicable
- Status updates throughout the process
- Tamper-evident return document
Most Popular
Tier 02
Apostille + Notarization
For documents needing mobile notarization or remote online notarization before apostille submission.
Call for Pricing
based on document & method
- Mobile notary or RON coordination when appropriate
- Hague and non-Hague guidance
- Document review before notarization
- Secretary of State submission support when applicable
- Status updates throughout the process
- Tamper-evident return document
Tier 03
Apostille Plus
For complex apostille needs, multiple documents, FDLE/FBI guidance, translations, or embassy legalization support.
Call for Pricing
based on complexity
- Multiple document coordination
- FDLE and FBI background check guidance
- Translation coordination when needed
- Authentication or embassy legalization guidance
- Status updates throughout the process
- Tamper-evident return document
Government fees, shipping, translation fees, notarization, witness coordination, rush processing, and embassy or federal authentication costs may be separate. All applicable fees are confirmed before booking.
Why Choose TIP
Built for Accuracy, Clarity, and Fewer Delays
Apostille mistakes can cost time and money. TIP Notary Specialists helps you choose the correct process before submission, especially for complex documents, background checks, translations, and non-Hague country requirements.
Document Eligibility Review
We review your document type, issuing authority, notarization needs, and destination country before submission.
Country-Specific Guidance
We help determine whether your document needs an apostille, authentication, embassy legalization, or another pathway.
FDLE & FBI Experience
We help clients understand state and federal background check authentication paths to avoid common submission mistakes.
Transparent Communication
You receive clear pricing, process guidance, and status updates, with responses within 2 business hours during business days.
Rush Service Available
Priority handling may be available for urgent deadlines, including travel, visa, legal, employment, and international move situations.
Translation Coordination
Certified document translation coordination may be available when a receiving agency or foreign country requires translated documents.
Apostille FAQs
Common Apostille Questions
These answers help clients understand the most common apostille, authentication, and document preparation questions before starting a request.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate the signature, seal, stamp, or authority attached to a public document for international use. It does not verify the content of the document.
Do Hague and non-Hague countries use the same process?
No. Hague member countries generally use an apostille. Non-Hague countries may require authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization.
Can a photocopy be apostilled?
Florida apostille submissions generally require the original document, an original certified copy, or a certificate of status when applicable. Photocopies are not accepted for Florida authentication processing.
Can TIP Notary Specialists help with background checks?
Yes. We help clients understand whether FDLE or FBI background checks need state-level or federal authentication and which process may apply.
Start Your Apostille
Ready to Authenticate Your Document?
Send your document details through the Notary Order Request form, or call, text, or WhatsApp the same business number. TIP Notary Specialists responds within 2 business hours and helps identify the correct apostille path for your document and destination country.
Call us - after hour appointments are available. Government fees and third-party processing timelines may vary by authority, document type, and destination country.