Apostille Services FAQ

An apostille is an official certificate that makes U.S. documents valid abroad under the Hague Convention. You need it for legal use in foreign countries.

Common documents include birth/marriage certificates, school diplomas, FBI background checks, corporate records, and notarized legal papers.

Apostille is a simplified certification valid in Hague countries. Embassy legalization is required if the country is not part of the Hague Convention.

Originals are preferred, but certified notarized copies are sometimes acceptable. Requirements vary by state and document type.

State apostilles usually take 2–5 business days. Federal (FBI or U.S. Dept. of State) can take 6–8 weeks. Expedited options may be available.

Fees vary by state and service. At PDX Fingerprinting, pricing depends on the type of document and speed of service.

You send them to the Secretary of State for state-level apostille, or to the U.S. Department of State for federal documents. We handle this process for you.

Some states offer same-day service if submitted in person. We can often expedite apostilles faster through our trusted channels.

Only countries in the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilles. Non-member countries require embassy legalization instead.

Your document must go through embassy or consular legalization. We can guide you through this process.

Yes, birth and marriage certificates are among the most common documents requiring apostille for use overseas.

Yes, educational records often need apostille for studying or working abroad. They may need notarization first.

Yes, but some states require a certified English translation before issuing the apostille.

First, request your FBI background check. Then submit it to the U.S. Department of State for federal apostille. We handle the steps for you.

State apostilles apply to state-issued documents. Federal apostilles (via the U.S. Dept. of State) apply to federal records like FBI reports.

Yes, PDX Fingerprinting can submit documents on your behalf, saving you time and avoiding mistakes.

Some documents must be notarized before they can receive an apostille, such as affidavits or powers of attorney.

Yes, the apostille must be issued in the state where the document originated, regardless of your current residence.

Sometimes foreign authorities reject documents due to errors. We can review, reprocess, and correct the issue.

Yes, we provide tracking updates when handling apostille requests for our clients.