What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an official certificate that verifies a document is genuine so it can be legally recognized in another country. It's issued under the 1961 Hague Convention, an international treaty that now includes more than 125 member countries. If your destination country is a member, a single apostille is all you need — no embassy visit required. If it isn't, your document requires a different process called embassy legalization instead.
Apostilles are commonly needed for relocating abroad, international business expansion, foreign university enrollment, work visas, and cross-border legal matters.
What Is a Certified Translation?
A certified translation is a translated version of your document accompanied by a signed statement from the translator confirming it's a complete and accurate translation of the original. Many countries require both an apostille and a certified translation before they'll accept a foreign document — the apostille verifies the document is authentic, while the certified translation makes it readable and legally usable in the destination country's language.
Not sure which one you need?
Most documents can go straight to apostille. But if yours still needs to be signed in front of a notary — a power of attorney, affidavit, or corporate resolution — start with online notarization first.
Step 1: Notarize your document (skip if already notarized)
As a Texas-commissioned Remote Online Notary, I can notarize your document over live video — from anywhere, at your convenience — before it goes through the apostille process.
Notarization (first signature) $10
Online notarization surcharge Fee $25
Total First Signature $35
Each additional signature $1
These fees are set by Texas Government Code §406.024 and the state's online notarization statute — this is the maximum allowed by law, not a markup we've added.
How it works
Tell us which document you need to have notarized
If it needs notarization, complete a short online video session with me as your commissioned notary
Step 2: File for your Texas apostille (Documents originating in the state of Texas
An apostille certifies your Texas-issued document for legal use in another country. If you're relocating abroad, expanding a business internationally, enrolling in a foreign university, or handling a cross-border legal matter, most countries will require this certification before they'll accept a U.S. document as valid.
Avansa Solutions handles the full process for you — from courier pickup at the Texas Secretary of State's office to return delivery — so you don't have to navigate the state process yourself or lose time to the standard mail-in turnaround.
Not sure if your document needs to be notarized first?
Not every document goes straight to apostille. Texas splits into two paths:
Already good to file “Recordable Documents— birth/death/marriage certificates, court records, background checks, and most corporate documents (Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, EIN letters) can be filed for apostille as-is.
Needs notarization first “Non Recordable Documents — Powers of attorney, affidavits, contracts, and corporate resolutions must be notarized before the Secretary of State will apostille them. If your document falls in this category and isn't notarized yet, we can notarize it for you online before filing — no in-person appointment required.
How it works
Mail your original document(s) to us using a trackable, insured shipping method
We file with the Texas Secretary of State on your behalf
Your apostilled document is mailed back to you using the return envelope and method you provide
Federal Apostille service is only for documents issued by the US Federal Government
A federal apostille certifies a document issued by a U.S. federal agency for legal use in another country. This is different from a Texas apostille — the Texas Secretary of State only certifies documents issued or notarized within Texas. If your document comes from a federal agency or a federal court, it has to go through the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications
What qualifies as a federal document
FBI Identity History Summary (background check / "rap sheet") — the most common federal apostille request, typically needed for work visas, residency applications, or international adoption
Federal court records — federal civil judgments, federal criminal records, bankruptcy court documents
IRS and U.S. Treasury documents
USPTO documents — patents, trademarks
USDA/FDA export certificates — common for businesses shipping products internationally
Documents issued by any other U.S. federal agency
A note on FBI background checks specifically
The Department of State only accepts an original or certified copy of your FBI Identity History Summary with the official FBI seal — a photocopy, scan, or notarized copy will be rejected outright. If you don't have your FBI report yet, you'll need to request it directly from the FBI (12–14 weeks by mail) or through an FBI-approved channeler (as fast as 24 hours to a few business days) before we can apostille it. We apostille the report you already have — we don't process the FBI request itself.
How it works
Mail your original federal document to us using a trackable, insured shipping method
We submit it to the U.S. Department of State on your behalf
Your apostilled document is mailed back to you