International Apostille & Document Authentication
State, federal, and embassy certification for dual citizenship, adoption, visa support, and international careers. Maryland apostille for birth certificates, death certificates, business documents, notarized documents, and vital records — next day. Federal authentication in days instead of weeks.
Which Route Applies to Your Document?
Why Documents Need Apostille or Authentication
Most people arrive here having been told they need 'an apostille' — without being told which of three completely different processes applies to them. This page sorts that out.
Getting the routes mixed up is the expensive mistake. Which one applies depends on who issued your document and which country wants it.
Never mix the federal route with the Maryland route. A federal document does not go to the Maryland Secretary of State. And notarizing certain federal documents — an FBI background check, for instance — can void them entirely. If a website hands you one combined list of steps, it is going to cost you.
How We Handle International Apostille & Authentication
Free Document Review
Send a photo of your document. We confirm what it needs (Maryland apostille same-day, federal authentication, or embassy legalization) and quote the total cost — no guesswork.
We Determine the Route
Maryland apostille? Same day. Annapolis? Next day. Federal work? We hand-carry documents into DC instead of mailing — cutting weeks off the timeline. Embassy legalization? We coordinate every step.
We Handle Submission & Courier — Fast
For federal work, we walk documents into the DC office ourselves instead of mailing them — federal apostille in days instead of weeks. For embassy legalization, we coordinate every step with speed.
You Receive Certified Documents
Fully authenticated documents returned by mail or pickup, ready for submission to your destination country — often weeks faster than the standard route.
Turnaround Times — Speed Built In
What we need: A clear photo or scan of the document, and the name of the destination country.
Why: Those two answers decide which of the three routes applies, and whether the document is even eligible in the form you have it.
What happens otherwise: A price quoted blind is a price that changes later. We would rather look first and tell you the real number.
What it costs to ask: Nothing. The consultation is free and nothing is committed until you accept a written quote.
International Apostille & Authentication FAQs
What's the difference between apostille and legalization?
An apostille is a single certification stamp that works in Hague Convention countries (most countries). Legalization is a multi-step process for non-Hague countries that requires state, federal, and embassy stamps. We handle both.
How long does international apostille take?
Maryland apostille typically takes 5–7 business days. Federal apostille takes 2–3 weeks for standard service or 3–5 days for rush. Embassy legalization varies by country, usually 2–4 weeks total. We hand-carry federal documents to cut the timeline.
Which countries need apostille vs. legalization?
About 180 countries are part of the Hague Convention and accept apostille. Non-Hague countries (including most Middle Eastern and some African nations) require full legalization. We'll confirm your destination's requirements during your free document review.
Can you handle dual citizenship dossiers?
Yes. We specialize in Italian (Jure Sanguinis), Indian (OCI), Spanish, Mexican, and other dual citizenship applications. We prepare the file, gather documents, and handle all apostille and authentication steps.
Do you work with adoption agencies?
Yes. We handle full adoption dossier apostille for domestic and international agencies, including multi-country legalization for Hague and non-Hague destinations.
What documents typically need international apostille?
Birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, powers of attorney, diplomas, professional licenses, FBI background checks, IRS letters, and court documents are the most common. We review your specific documents for free.
Ready to Authenticate Your Documents?
Start with a free document review. We'll tell you exactly what your documents need and how much it costs.