What Does an Apostille Look Like?
An apostille is a standardized one-page certificate, usually attached to your document, titled APOSTILLE with a French Hague Convention reference and ten numbered fields. Here is an annotated example.
An apostille is a standardized one-page certificate, most often attached to your document as an added page. At the top it carries the single word APOSTILLE, and directly beneath it the French line Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961. Below that sit ten numbered fields that identify your document, the official who signed it, and the authority issuing the apostille, finished with an official seal or stamp and a signature. Because the layout is defined by the 1961 Hague Convention, an apostille looks broadly similar in every member country, even though the paper, color, and exact placement vary by the issuing authority.
Illustrative example only; the exact layout, paper, and wording vary slightly by issuing authority. This is a generic diagram, not any specific state's certificate.
The Ten Numbered Fields, Explained
Every Hague apostille uses the same ten standardized fields. The issuing authority fills them in. Here is what each one certifies.
Country
Names the country where the apostille is issued, for a U.S. document this reads United States of America. It confirms the apostille comes from a Hague Convention member state.
Has been signed by
The name of the official whose signature appears on your underlying document, for example the notary, county clerk, or vital records registrar. The apostille authenticates that person's signature, not the contents of the document.
Acting in the capacity of
The official role or title of the person in field 2, such as Notary Public or Deputy Registrar. It establishes that the signer had authority to sign.
Bears the seal / stamp of
The office or authority whose seal appears on the underlying document. This ties the document to a recognized public office.
At
The city or place where the apostille itself is issued, typically the state capital where the Secretary of State or, for federal documents, the U.S. Department of State is located.
The (date)
The date the apostille is issued. Note that the apostille itself does not expire, though the receiving authority may have its own freshness rule for the document underneath.
By
The authority issuing the apostille, a U.S. Secretary of State for state documents or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones. This is the office vouching for the official in field 2.
Certificate number
A unique reference number for the apostille. The issuing authority records it, which is how a receiving party can later confirm the apostille is genuine.
Seal / stamp
The official seal or stamp of the issuing authority, often embossed or printed in color. It is one of the main visual markers that distinguish a real apostille.
Signature
The signature of the authorized official at the issuing authority. Together with the seal and certificate number, it completes the apostille.
How Apostilles Vary in Appearance
The ten fields are standardized, but the packaging is not. These are the differences you are most likely to notice.
Attached page vs stamp on the document
Most U.S. authorities issue the apostille as a separate cover page attached to your document with a grommet, ribbon, or staple. Some print the apostille as a stamp or imprint directly onto the document. Both are valid.
Paper, color, and size vary by state
Different states use different paper stock, security backgrounds, seal colors, and page sizes. Two genuine apostilles from two states can look quite different while carrying the same ten fields.
Federal apostilles look different from state ones
A federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State has its own layout and seal and will not match a state Secretary of State apostille. The numbered fields are the same; the styling is not.
Some authorities issue e-apostilles
A growing number of authorities issue an electronic apostille (e-apostille) as a digitally signed PDF rather than a paper page. The fields are identical; the format is digital.
How a scanned or PDF document gets apostilledHow to Check That an Apostille Is Genuine
Because apostilles look different from state to state, the reliable way to confirm one is real is not the styling, it is the record behind it.
- The issuing authority records the certificate number (field 8) when it issues the apostille, so a genuine apostille is traceable back to that office.
- Many issuing authorities offer a way to verify an apostille by phone or through an online lookup against the certificate number; the availability and method differ by authority.
- The authority that receives your document abroad can confirm the apostille directly with the issuing authority that produced it.
- Treat the seal, signature, and certificate number together as the things that matter, not the paper color or exact layout, which legitimately vary.
What You Receive From Us
When we handle your order, the finished apostille certificate is attached to the notarized true copy of your document, forming a single packet. We ship that packet to you with tracking, so you can see exactly what your apostille looks like the moment it arrives. You never have to mail us an original to get there.
Never mail your original documents
We process apostilles from a notarized true copy of your uploaded scan. Your birth certificate, diploma, or FBI report never leaves your hands, so it can never be lost in the mail.
How true copy processing worksFrequently Asked Questions
An apostille is a standardized one-page certificate, usually attached to your document as an extra page. It is titled APOSTILLE with the French line Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961 beneath it, followed by ten numbered fields, an official seal or stamp, and a signature. The format is set by the 1961 Hague Convention, so apostilles look broadly similar across member countries, though paper and color vary by issuing authority.
Related Resources
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We are an independent service provider and are not affiliated with any government authority, consulate, or institution. The illustration on this page is a generic diagram of the standardized Hague apostille format, not a reproduction of any specific state's certificate, seal, or coat of arms. Actual apostilles vary in paper, color, and layout by issuing authority. Details were last verified in June 2026.