How an apostille order works
Four steps
Say what you have and where it is going
Pick the document, who issued it and the country. You see the all-in price at once, or a quote request when the document needs one.
Upload a photo
Our check reads it and says in plain words whether it looks ready, or what needs attention and how to fix it. You see this before you pay.
Pay, then mail the original
The total is itemized and there are no other fees. Your confirmation shows exactly where to mail the original, or says there is nothing to mail if we are ordering a fresh copy.
We submit it, check it and ship it back
We send it to the right authority with the government fee. When it comes back we check the apostille against your order: the name, the country and the signing official must match.
After you pay
Each document moves through these steps. Your tracking page shows each one with the time it happened, and we email you at every change.
- Waiting for the document
- Received at our hub
- Submitted to the authority
- Returned by the authority
- Apostille checked
- Shipped to you
If we are waiting on something from you, the tracking page says what and why, and you can message us from the same page. Find your order
What can go wrong
Most problems show in a photo, so we check each document before you pay. These examples are for a California document. Each state has its own rules, and its page here lists them.
A photocopy instead of the original
Send us the original document.
A notarized copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate
Send the original certified copy.
A certificate signed by a local registrar or health officer
Get the county clerk certification or a new certified copy before you mail it.
A document from another state
An apostille has to come from the state that issued the document, and we do not take Nevada orders online yet. Change the issuing state and we will take a quote request.
If an authority still rejects a document, we resubmit it at no service charge. Refund policy
Questions
Do you check my document before I pay?
Yes. You upload a photo or scan of each document, and the check tells you in plain language whether it looks ready or what needs attention and how to fix it. A needs-attention result does not stop the order; it explains what we will do or what you need to do.
What do I need to send?
You send the original document, not a copy. Before you pay, you upload a photo or scan of it so we can check it. For a birth, death or marriage certificate, that means the certified copy you were issued.
How long does it take?
We send your document to the authority within 1 business day of receiving it, and ship it back within 1 business day of getting it back. The authority's time is separate and we cannot promise it. Where a state publishes a figure, that state's page here shows it with the day we read it. For example: On November 12, 2026 the California Secretary of State reported it was processing mailed apostille requests received on November 3, 2026. In-person requests at the Los Angeles office are typically processed within 30 minutes.
What happens if the authority rejects my document?
If an authority rejects a document, we tell you why and what is needed, and we resubmit it at no service charge.
What if my destination country is not in the Apostille Convention?
Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention need embassy legalization instead of an apostille. The order form tells you which one your country needs. For embassy legalization we give you a quote rather than an instant price.