Whether you are applying for a visa to live or work in another country, or need a legal document authenticated for use abroad, you will likely need an apostille. An apostille is a form of authentication/certification that is accepted in countries that have signed the Hague Convention of 1961.
The apostille for federal applications to make it easy for governments to recognize the authenticity of documents that are being used in their jurisdiction. This is achieved by using a uniform layout that has been agreed upon by member states. The apostille will verify the signature of the official who signed the original document, and add a seal or stamp of the state government which issued the document.
Understanding Apostille for Federal Applications in the USA
In the United States, the Secretary of State is the entity that issues apostilles. However, each individual state may have a different procedure for issuing apostilles. Therefore, it is important to research the requirements for the state in which you intend to use your document.
For example, if you need an apostille for your NYS criminal background check for use in Germany, it is necessary to contact the NY Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) for instructions. DCJS will provide you with a copy of the background check that contains the signature of the representative who signed the document. This signature does not need to be notarized.
Please note that a federal apostille is required for any document with a signature of a US government officer. This includes FBI Background checks, FAA documents, and naturalization documents. This is in addition to the apostille requirement for the country you are going to use your document in.
