Question 1

What is an apostille?

Accepted Answer

An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated U.S. authority (a Secretary of State) that authenticates a U.S. document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Question 2

Do I need to send my original documents?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, no. You upload clear color scans of your documents through our secure portal. Our licensed notary certifies that the printed copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original, and a U.S. Secretary of State issues the apostille on the notary-certified true copy. Your originals never have to leave your possession. The only time you would need to mail the physical original is if the receiving authority in your destination country specifically requires the original document or specifically requires the apostille to come from the same state that issued the document.

Question 3

How can you process an apostille with just a digital scan?

Accepted Answer

Our process uses a U.S.-licensed notary who certifies that a printed copy made from your scan is a true and accurate reproduction of the original document. A U.S. Secretary of State then issues the apostille on the notary-certified true copy. The apostille authenticates the notary's seal and signature, which is exactly what the Hague Convention recognizes. Because we work from a scan, your original never has to leave your possession, processing is significantly faster than mailing physical documents back and forth, and there is no risk of your original being lost or damaged in transit.

Question 4

Do my documents need notarization before the apostille?

Accepted Answer

Government-issued vital records (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates) typically do not require additional notarization before apostille. Private documents such as powers of attorney, school transcripts, and personal affidavits do need to be notarized first, because the apostille is issued on the notary's certification rather than on the document itself. If your documents need notarization, we can handle it as part of your order through our remote online notary add-on.

Question 5

How long does it take to get documents apostilled for mexico residency?

Accepted Answer

Our digital process completes Economy orders in 4-6 business days, Standard in 2-3 business days, and Express in 1 business day. Shipping time is separate from processing time.

Question 6

How much does an apostille cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on the processing tier you choose. Economy starts at $149 per document, Standard at $197, and Express (1 business day) at $249. All tiers include document review, notarized true copy, state apostille, and tracked domestic shipping. See our pricing page for full details and add-ons.

Question 7

Which countries accept apostilles?

Accepted Answer

Over 120 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilles. This includes most of Europe, South America, and many countries in Asia and Africa. If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention, you may need embassy legalization instead of an apostille.

Question 8

Which documents need an apostille for Mexican residency?

Accepted Answer

The exact list depends on your consulate and your visa type, but most applicants need an apostilled birth certificate, and often a marriage certificate, a divorce decree (if you are registering a new marriage), an FBI background check, and proof-of-income documents. Confirm your specific checklist with the consulate handling your case, because requirements vary by consulate and by visa category.

Question 9

Do I need my FBI background check apostilled for Mexico?

Accepted Answer

It depends. Some consulates and some INM processes ask for an apostilled FBI background check, and some visa types do not require it at all. Because this varies by consulate and by visa type, confirm with the specific office handling your application before you order. If it is required, the FBI report is a federal document and must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not a state Secretary of State.

Question 10

Does Mexico require a translation of my apostilled documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mexico requires foreign documents to be translated into Spanish by an authorized translator (in Mexico, a perito traductor). The translation is done after the apostille so that it also covers the apostille certificate. We can help you sequence the apostille and the certified Spanish translation in the correct order.

Question 11

Can you apostille my documents from a scan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We process apostilles from a notarized true copy (copia fiel certificada) of your uploaded scan, so your original birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other document never leaves your hands. The only exception is when a destination country or institution specifically demands the apostille on the original physical document; in that case we tell you during review and process it under Original Protocol.

Question 12

How long does it take to apostille documents for Mexico?

Accepted Answer

Processing time depends on the state and document type, and FBI background checks require federal processing through the U.S. Department of State, which takes longer than most state documents. Because you also need a certified Spanish translation after the apostille, we recommend starting several weeks before your consulate appointment or INM deadline.

Question 13

Do you ship apostilled documents to Mexico?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We ship completed apostilled documents to you with full tracking, and international shipping to Mexico is available if you are already there or filing locally with INM.

Apostille for Mexico Residency

Common Documents Needed

Step-by-Step Process

Confirm Your Consulate's Checklist

Gather Your Documents

Upload Scans to Us

We Apostille via Notarized True Copy

Certified Spanish Translation, Then Submit

Common Destination Countries

Tips

Ready to Get Started?

Never mail your original documents

Frequently Asked Questions

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