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 document?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, no. You upload a clear color scan of your document 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 original document never has 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.

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

Does my document 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 document needs 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 a document apostilled?

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

Will my apostille be accepted in Portugal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Portugal is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a U.S. apostille is directly recognized by Portugal authorities without any further legalization step.

U.S. Apostille for Portugal

Portugal · Hague Convention Status

Key Information

Common Documents for Portugal

Primary Use Cases

Get Your Documents Apostilled for Portugal

Never mail your original documents

Frequently Asked Questions

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