The 4 Main Requirements for Apostilling Documents with Orange County Apostille
Getting your documents apostilled for international use can seem overwhelming—but with Orange County Apostille, the process is made simple, clear, and stress-free. Whether you’re submitting birth certificates, marriage certificates, court documents, or FBI background checks, we’ve broken the process down into four key requirements to ensure successful and expedited apostille certification.
Let’s dive into what you need to know before scheduling your appointment.
✅ 1. The Destination Country Must Be a Member of the Hague Apostille Convention
The apostille process only applies to documents being used in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination country is not a member, your documents must undergo embassy or consular legalization instead.
We’ll help you determine the correct path for document authentication. Whether you’re headed to Spain, Mexico, Israel, or Portugal, we’ll guide you through the steps.
🔗 Explore the full list of Hague Convention Countries.
✅ 2. You Must Schedule an Appointment
To offer the best service, we require all clients to book an appointment with us. This allows our team to:
- Review your documents in advance
- Verify document eligibility
- Provide personalized guidance
Appointments are available in-person, by phone, or virtual.
✅ 3. Documents Must Be Issued or Notarized in the Correct Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of your document determines where it should be apostilled:
- California Apostille: Documents must be issued or notarized in California (e.g., vital records, business filings).
- Federal Apostille: Documents must come from U.S. federal agencies, such as:
- FBI Background Checks
- IRS Tax Transcripts
- USCIS Naturalization Certificates
📍 We process state documents in Orange County and federal documents via our Washington, D.C. office.
✅ 4. Documents Must Be Properly Certified or Notarized
Your documents must meet one of the following conditions:
- Certified original from a government agency (e.g., birth certificate from CDC Vital Records)
- Notarized by a commissioned notary with proper notarial wording, seal, and signature
We carefully review every document to ensure compliance and reduce the risk of rejection.
Need help determining if your document is ready? We provide full support from start to finish.
Would You Like This as a Downloadable Checklist?
We can create a downloadable PDF checklist or webpage version of these requirements for your convenience. Reach out and let us know how we can support your needs.
Helpful Resources and Government Backlinks
- U.S. Department of State – Apostille Info
- FBI Identity History Summary Check
- California Secretary of State – Apostille
- CDC Where to Write for Vital Records
- National Notary Association
- Internal Revenue Service
- U.S. Courts – Court Records
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- American Bar Association
- USCIS – Citizenship and Immigration
Embedded Backlinks for Easy Access (20)
- Book an Appointment – Orange County Apostille
- Hague Apostille Convention
- Hague Member Countries
- California Secretary of State Apostille Info
- FBI Background Checks
- USCIS Naturalization Info
- IRS Tax Records
- CDC Vital Records
- American Bar Association
- National Notary Association
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Courts
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- FedEx International Shipping
- UPS Document Services
- American Translators Association
- Marriage License Laws – U.S.
- Embassy of Israel in U.S.
- Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Mexican Foreign Affairs Office
Conclusion
A successful apostille begins with the right preparation. With Orange County Apostille, you can be confident that your documents meet all legal criteria and are processed quickly and correctly. Whether you’re dealing with California state or U.S. federal documents, our team is here to help.
📅 Schedule your appointment with Orange County Apostille today and get your documents ready for international use.
