How to Apostille a Document from the United States

If you need to use a public document issued by any State in the United States or by the Federal government in a foreign country then you will need to have that document Apostilled. An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of that public document.
In this video, I review the Apostille process using a birth certificate issued by a US state as an example. The most common documents that require an Apostille when applying for residency in Costa Rica are the birth certificate, marriage certificate, and the criminal background report.
You can view the complete Apostille Guide from the Hague Convention on the Legalization of Foreign documents here: www.hcch.net/e...
In the United States to Apostille state documents, you will need to contact your Secretary of State. Here is the list of their contact information: www.nass.org/m...
For US Federal documents you will need to contact the U.S Department of State: travel.state.g...
If you require a background search from the Federal Bureau of Investigation - F.B.I. then you can contact them here: www.fbi.gov/se...
For more information about Costa Rica be sure to check out our website at: costaricalaw.com/ and our KZbin Channel @CostaRicalaw

[@vwatts8738]

BEST!! Explanation of the Apostille process. Thank you!!!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for your comment and glad you liked the explanation

[@verdaleharrison977]

This information was extremely helpful and by far, the best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for your feedback much appreciated. Glad you found in helpful

[@Charles-qt4hq]

Good video, good explanation. I handled that myself for my wife and me. And we googled local Post Offices that did the FBI fingerprinting and checks. Made an appointment for the next day. Had those results in an hour or less. Then sent it off to State Dept,, and had that back in a few days. Longest time was getting wife’s birth certificate from NYC and then apostilled, as NYC handles them differently than the rest of NY State. Still, had it all together when we arrived in Costa Rica, translated by our local atty, filed electronically the same day we had fingerprinting in San Jose. Docs do expire, so make sure your atty files before they expire (6 months for FBI prints affirmed by State). Oh, we also had proof of income from the Embassy, in Spanish, within a few hours of requesting. So we were good to go upon arrival thanks to good guidance from our atty in Atenas.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for commenting and sharing your positive experiences in filing.

[@hanegia]

Wow. I didn’t think this video was going to ENJOYABLE to experience with you as WELL as informative, thank you so much.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad to hear you found it informative and enjoyable and thank you for your feedback

[@gregmoore66]

This is a great video. Thanks. Please take it a step further and elaborate on the factual steps for specific documents. What is clear and easy for you is a mystery for many of us who have never done this before. Thank you again for this info.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Thank you for your comment. I will add a step by step video in the near future. In the meantime I will set forth the process below: If you are applying for residency, for example, you will need a birth certificate, a marriage certificate (if you are applying with your spouse) and a criminal background report from the F.B.I. Step One. Get your birth certificate and marriage certificate (if applying with your spouse) If you really want to simplify the process hire a private company to get the records for you. They can process a birth certificate and a marriage certificate. The two companies we have used in the past are: Vital Check: www.vitalchek.com/ or GoCertificates: www.gocertificates.com/ They generally will handle it all for you and send the documents to you directly. If you prefer to deal directly with your State vital statistics office then you would need to contact each state where your document was issued. If you were born in Colorado, for example, contact the vital statistics office of the State of Colorado. If you were married in Nevada then you would need to contact the Vital Statistics Office of Nevada. Here is a link to the CDC website that lists the vital statistics office of every state in the United States for you. www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm STEP TWO. Get an FBI Criminal Background Certificate. To get and FBI Criminal Background Certificate follow the instructions on the FBI web site as follows: www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks FINAL STEP. APOSTILLE. Be sure that all the documents that you get have an APOSTILLE on them so that they are accepted in Costa Rica. You get the Apostille from the Secretary of State of the State that issued the document.

[@docdt3968]

@@CostaRicaLaw, thank you for the video and this useful steps. All the best!

[@MNPD-FINEST]

Thank you. This video was so helpful without all the extra talk to confuse you. It was great

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad it was helpful and thank you for your feedback

[@mica6801]

Best explanation I've heard.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for your feedback and glad you found the explanation helpful.

[@ericurena8023]

Amazing. It just so happens that I'm a US/ Costa Rican Citizen who got married in the US and is trying to get the Marriage Cert recognized in CR. What a nice coincidence!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Eric. Glad you found the video helpful. Congrats on your marriage !

[@Freekygrandma]

The correct description of an apostille is that it is a certification of the public official who signed it. I.E. a notary, a registrar, a clerk of the court, a magistrate, a state treasurer, etc. It’s to certify that they were duly commissioned at the time of the apostille request. It has absolutely nothing to do with the document itself. Each apostille throughout the United States has 10 elements certifying the public official who issued it and or notarized it. Look at one to see if it’s about the document itself. You won’t find anything about the document. Any public document outside of vital records and Federal documents will need to be notarized and apostilled at the State level first. If it’s vital records, no notarization just apostilled at state level and Federal docs it goes straight to D.C. If it’s going to a country outside of The Hague Convention it’s has to be certified at the state level, then authenticated in DC then Legalized at that country’s Embassy or Consulate. These are very basic steps but not all. It’s a very tedious process and should be done professionally. Documents get rejected all the time and money lost in the process. Find an experienced notary who can facilitate the entire process for you. A one stop shop.

[@26taylos]

This video was very helpful

[@mertovu]

Hello, how can i get my birth certificate legalized for use in Ecuador, my country only certifies documents with a stamp "TRUE COY OF THE ORIGINAL" but it doesn't apostille nor legalize. This is because it not a member country of the apostille countries.

[@johnrualmond2176]

Thanks CostaRicaLaw for that interpretation and application; We agree, that every Sovereign State should demonstrate an ability to “seal” any paper it authors, done so in the accepted international commercial conventions regarding “stamps” and “postage and revenue”; credibility maxim states, “first in time, is first in line”; copyright is a privacy power [Cf. Stamp and Cheque Duties Act 1971, s.10, s.77, s.84; Privacy Act 2020, principle 7, 13; Contract and Commercial Law Act 2917, ss.36-40; Bills of Exchange Act 1908, s.20, s.98];

[@ohduana6746]

Incredibly informative, thank you!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching

[@jamescadzow9545]

Thank you for the helpful and concise content.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for taking the time to watch the video.

[@jeclipse129]

Thank you for pronouncing the word properly!!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for watching the video.

[@apostillenearme9642]

Great Job explaining the Apostille process!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad it was helpful! and thank you for watching and commenting.

[@apostillenearme9642]

@@CostaRicaLaw you’re welcome!

[@AngelGonzalez-zm9do]

LIFE SAVER! Amazing and super helpful video.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for watching and glad you found it helpful

[@cobaltraven]

Hey Roger, this was a very informative and clear video, thanks! I do have a question though: Would the process be the same to apostille a document issued by a private company, such as a certificate of employment?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Rob. To do a private document you would need to hire a NOTARY PUBLIC to certify the document as authentic and then have the signature of the Notary Public apostilled

[@soniaho5173]

Super helpful. Thank you :)

[@ajcubarrubia2350]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You're welcome and thank you for watching

[@hdbf4e]

Great video! One question, can it be done in person the apostille process of a university diploma and grade certificate(for florida)

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Best check directly with the Florida Secretary of State dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/

[@lostiemposmejores8830]

Let's say I need the birth certificate translated to Spanish, how would I go about getting the original translated and then apostilled?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Generally the Apostille is to authenticate the original official document and not the translation. If you wanted to Apostille both you would probably need to have the birth certificate Apostilled in the State issued and then have the certified translation authenticated by a Notary Public and then have the signature of the Notary Apostilled.

[@miriamtorano8581]

Thank you for this video. My question is I’m doing one for a friend of my starter that’s living in Mexico and has a father native born to Mexico along with the application and sending the original birth certificate. Do I need to translate the birth certificate into Spanish?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Are you wanting to Apostille a Mexican birth certificate for use in the U.S. If so you can see the requirements from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Relations here: www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/apostilla-de-documentos/SEGOB3000 On the other hand if you are looking to Apostille a US birth certificate for use in Mexico then you can get the apostille of the birth certificate and hire a translator to translate into Spanish and the translation con be notarized and apostilled as well. Check directly with the department that is requesting the document to determine exactly what they require.

[@PeezyPotatoes]

Hi thank you for the video. If you are getting an apostille for an FBI background check does the document need to be notarized locally before it’s sent for the apostille?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The FBI check requires a Federal Apostille by the Department of State. Here is the information from their website. 22. Does the FBI provide apostilles*? (*An apostille is a certification that a document has been “legalized” or “authenticated” by the issuing agency through a process in which various seals are placed on the document.) The FBI will authenticate all U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 fingerprint search results by placing the FBI seal and the signature of a division official on the results at the time of submission. Note: The FBI seal is no longer a raised seal. Documents authenticated by the FBI may then be sent to the U.S. Department of State by the requestor to obtain an apostille if necessary. Requests to authenticate previously processed results will not be accepted.

[@acdcmiami]

Thank you for the video. Does the birth certificate need to be certified first by the county clerk?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The birth certificate needs to be issued and signed by the public official that is legally authorized in your state to issue certified vital statistics documents. Once it is issued by that state vital statistics office it would be certified already. Check with the Department of Health or Vital Statistic office of your particular state to determine what they will provide to you.

[@fibelbs]

Thank you for the video! I have a quick question: when completing the Apostille or Notarial Certification Request FORM of Florida it asks: Country the document is being authenticated for: should this be USA or should I indicate the name of the country I am doing this for?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Just indicate the country where you are sending the Apostilled document.

[@fibelbs]

@@CostaRicaLaw Thank you so much!

[@mike7243]

Thank you for the video. One questions, I live in Atlanta Georgia but was born in New York City. Does that mean I have to go to NY to have these documents Apostille or can I do this in Georgia?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Mike. Thank you for the question. The documents have to be Apostilled in New York. You should be able to do it by mail. You send them the original birth certificate to the New York Secretary of State and they will be able to Apostille it for you.

[@LevysteinLockett]

@Mike, I live in California and was born in New York on Long Island. I need an apostille for my birth certificate now. Have you gone through the process of getting your documents apostilled in NY? Was it pretty simple to go through the process? Thanks😊

[@mike7243]

@@LevysteinLockett No I haven't gotten that far yet. It appears I will need to make roadtrip to NY to have this done. I was told that it could be done by mail but I'm not sure how long that would take to get it back. I'm planning to f)y back to CR end of July so time is not on my side.

[@LevysteinLockett]

@@mike7243 ahhh ok....gotcha! I'm sending mine off via mail. It looks like it'll take about 6-8 weeks to process. Costa Rica made the announcement on Friday that their borders are closed right now until August 1st, so hopefully they open up soon 🤞🏽

[@LevysteinLockett]

@@mike7243 In person you get it the same day, so that would be great if you can get there in person so you don't have to wait a month or two to get it back since COVID-19 has slowed everything down. Good luck!😊

[@Princess-bw2uz]

The california secretary of state says they are not currently accepting apostiles forms sent after march 27. Is there another way I can get my birth certificate apostiled?

[@globoprimevisalegalisation4312]

Globoprime excels in providing Fast and reliable Degree & Diploma certificate attestation, Marriage certificate attestation & birth certificate attestation, death certificate attestation, Divorce Visit : www.globoprime.com

[@1SpiritualTruth]

Hello, How do I get award letters from Social Security and the VA which contains the seal of the agency, the official's signature and the printed name and title of the official who signed the document please? These things are required for the State Department to apostille the documents. The download award letters from the VA and Social Security do not have the above.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

There are many companies that offer Federal Apostille services via de US Department of State. I would suggest contacting some of those directly to see if they can offer you a solution to your question since they have more extensive experience in dealing with those authenticating agencies.

[@waltercastro4928]

Hi, thanks for the excellent video, I'm from Costa Rica living in Usa. My Questions is regarding to any other document I have to apostille bank documents, is that the same process because everything is by email, how can I do that. Thank you for your help in advance.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Walter. Thank you for watching the video and for your questions. Typically, if the document is issued by a local government official, it can be apostilled by the Secretary of State. However, when it comes to bank documents, they are considered private, requiring certification by a Notary Public before the signature of the Notary Public can be apostilled.

[@daisydiaz5893]

Thank you. Very helpful 👍🏼

[@divinasnider8136]

If it was from Florida for example the birth certificate but they they live in Tx , do I need to get the certificate with the apostille and send it straight to to Austin SOS for approval? Florida doesn’t need to step in anywhere in my services to my client ?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi and thanks for watching. If the birth certificate is from Florida then it needs to go to the Florida Secretary of State for Apostille.

[@divinasnider8136]

😊

[@caseyjones619]

So before sending it in to the state where it was issued do I need to notarize the birth certificate??

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You need to obtain an official certified birth certificate from the state you were born. That official state document can then be Apostilled by your Secretary of State. That one does not have to be notarized. I recommend you view the website for your State Secretary of State apostille section which will contain all the requirements that they require. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@dgarcia18]

If you go in person. Do you receive the apostille there and then or does it have to be mailed out?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Best check with the Secretary of State for your State to verify their procedures since it varies state by state and federally.

[@gisellaruggiero5827]

I have a Birth Certificate from Puerto Rico. The website of the Hague Convention only mentions the United States without any mention of its territories. Will I need an Apostille as well for my document?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Here is more information on Puerto Rico Apostille www.puertoricoapostille.com/

[@chuertas003]

Hey, thanks for the video. Now, I'm a Costarican with a GED diploma from Florida. Can you guide me to the right direction?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You welcome and glad the video was of assistance to you. If you are trying to validate your foreign degree try the Ministry of Education. dgec.mep.go.cr/deac/certificacion-extranjera or for University level ore.conare.ac.cr/xhtml/paginas/info/instrucciones.xhtml

[@acdcmiami]

I thought an apostille authenticated the notary's valid commission only.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Here is the exact definition from the US State Department. " Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, court orders, or any other document issued by a public authority so that they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Convention."

[@mariesthel]

Hi, thank you for posting the video, very helpful. I have a question, I hope you can help me, please. My daughter studied all elementary school in the US (Public schools), first Florida and then California. Now we are back in our country (Ecuador), and I need her school grades apostille in order to enroll her in Ecuadorian school. How should I do the apostille???? Thank you

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You will need the school registrar in each school to issue an official transcript that is notarized / certified copy. Once you have the transcript notarized you will then need to have it apostilled. Here is more details from a company called International Apostille on transcripts: www.internationalapostille.com/how-to-apostille-a-school-transcript/

[@mariesthel]

@@CostaRicaLaw but she studied Elementary school, from Kindergarten to 5th grade.... I though transcripts were issued just at colleges or universities.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@mariesthel It does not matter. Elementary, High School or College. They usually have student records which is a summary of the courses and grades taken. Contact the school directly to find out what type of student records they issue and the official copy of that record is what you need to have Apostilled.

[@TreesOnTheBeach]

Really good info. Thank you.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching

[@maturewoman81]

Hi Roger, thank you for this video. What if you currently reside in the US, were born in the the Uk, your parents were born in another country, but you need to get your UK birth certificate apostilled to be sent to another country? Do you know what the process is for that?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi Melanie and thank you for your feedback. The key is the origin of the document and not so much where you currently live. If you need a UK birth certificate then you will need to obtain it in the UK and then have it Apostilled in the UK. If the country where you will send that document is a member of the Apostille treaty then they will accept that UK birth certificate with the Apostille

[@maturewoman81]

@@CostaRicaLaw Thank you Roger! The birth certificate is here in the US, so it would have to be sent to the UK to be apostilled? Do you know if that could be done via email, or would I need to be present to have it apostilled?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@maturewoman81 It has to be physical document. Contact the UK government agency in charge of apostille. Here is the link www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

[@mtma1966]

I sent my DD Form 214 to the Dept of State in Washington DC and after 30 days I received it back with no apostle. After several calls now to them I have been referred to Dept of State Florida. After speaking to them they informed me my 214 is a federal document and it gets apostled at DC. Now I'm totally confused.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Yeah Federal Documents are Apostilled by the Department of State, travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/office-of-authentications.html

[@nomembers6666]

Well, I am trying to get Appostile and I also have a notarised version of my diploma and transcript

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If they are notarized then what will be apostilled is the signature of the Notary Public certifying that those documents are true copies.

[@jllorenzo6396]

Hello Can you apostille a document in the Philippines, like a divorce decree that was issued in Texas?? That would be used in the Philippines

[@varriovlogs]

So i need to register my new born son in mexico they ask for a apostille of my birth certificate and i got the apostille but they said the apostille needs to be translated in Spanish now what do i need to do?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hire an official translator in Mexico to translate that document for you. Here is the directory of the Mexican Translator Association to search for a translator. omt.org.mx/directorio

[@fayeweatherspoon8359]

Excellent content, 🙏🏾 thank you!!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for watching and your feedback

[@georgebosque7790]

What about a divorce apostille or a letter notarized that says you have no children or proving single status? Please help 😅 🙏

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Any document such as a divorce decree or a notarized letter can be apostilled. The apostille has to be done in the state (if in the United States) where the divorce decree is certified by the court and the notarized letter wherever the Notary Public that signs it is commissioned to act.

[@lovetdeguzman]

Hello. If I may ask.. I live in chicago and I have two notarized documents for a property I purchased in the philippines one is a SPA and the other is a Deed of Absolute Sale. I'm going to have them apostilled. Are they going to ask me a bunch of questions and need me to bring all the signatories on my documents? Will they keep any of my copies? I have zero idea on what the process is and what I need to prepare myself for. Lol. Thank you.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If the documents are issued in the Philipines or notarized from the Philipines the apostille would need to come from the Philipines. If you are in Chicago not sure what it is that your are trying to get apostilled unless you are getting notarized copies of your documents.

[@patriceandreu3575]

I was born in Casablanca Morocco as a French citizen. I received a copy of my birth certificate from the French government along with an official letter from the SERVICE CENTRAL D’ETAT CIVIL. Would that satisfy the Costa Rican requirements?

[@globoprimevisalegalisation4312]

Globoprime excels in providing Fast and reliable Degree & Diploma certificate attestation, Marriage certificate attestation & birth certificate attestation, death certificate attestation, Divorce Visit : www.globoprime.com

[@mayajossy6466]

Am from Africa.. I based in Mexico and I my pamit. How can I get the apostille am with my birth certificate

[@JumpingFlightAttendant]

Request your birth certificate from Africa and ask them if they will attach an apostille along with it.

[@niadavis3921]

Still learning the apostille business. I’m confused on the process. So as someone who will apostille documents my job is to send the documents to the Secretary of State and pay them a fee. Then I send that document to my client and they pay me a fee ?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Here is a company that provides those services so you can read on their website the description and the process they follow www.apostillepros.com/

[@dovygoodguy1296]

How does the process work with Canadian authorities that don't do apostilles for birth or marriage certificates? What about university transcripts in any country? What happens when you need a certificate from a country that is difficult to obtain especially with an apostille?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Correct Canada is not a member of the Apostille treaty. To authenticate Canadian documents for use in Costa Rica you need to (1) Authentication by Canadian Authorities: Take the notarized or certified document to the authentication office of the Canadian government, typically the Global Affairs Canada office (previously known as the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada). They will authenticate the document by attaching an official certificate or stamp. Here is the link: www.international.gc.ca/gac-amc/about-a_propos/services/authentication-authentification/step-etape-1.aspx?lang=eng (2) Certification by the Costa Rican Embassy: Once the document has been authenticated by Canadian authorities, you will need to have it certified by the Costa Rican Embassy in Canada. Visit the Costa Rican Embassy or consulate and submit the document, along with the authentication certificate received from the Canadian authorities. They will affix their own stamp or certificate to verify the document's authenticity for use in Costa Rica. costaricaembassy.com/ As to the other countries, you would need to determine if they are members of the Apostille treaty or not and determine the established process. In Costa Rica if you can prove beyond a doubt that you cannot get a document from your home country due to the political situation in that country then you might be able to provide a sworn declaration indicating the reason why you cannot bet the document certified.

[@dovygoodguy1296]

@@CostaRicaLaw Don't authorities like to have new certificates apostilled? Certificates issued in the prior several months? And if the certificates are from overseas it might take a while to get new ones.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@dovygoodguy1296 Costa Rica only accepts documents that are less than 6 months old.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

My focus is on documents for use in Costa Rica where I am located so you would need to check with the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs of each country to determine what they need to officially recognize a document. As to Canadian documents in the case of Costa Rica they must first be authenticated by the Canadian Global Affairs department and then sent to the Costa Rica Embassy in Canada for further authentication.

[@BrittHustles]

Great Video! Thank you

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad you liked it and thank you for your feedback

[@muqaddasrana8946]

Can i get a US birth certificate attested living currently in UAE. Can i do it by mailing my document to them as I’m currently not in the US are they gonna mail it back to me once its done?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If you are not in the US then you might want to hire a company in the US that can get your birth certificate for you and have it apostilled. There are several companies that offer that type of service. Here is one we have used in the past. www.onesourceprocess.com/

[@marvelous20126]

Hey , sir just boom to this video 😊 I am a Cameroonian, living in Finland but I got married in UAE , please can you help me where I can legalise the marriage certificate?Thank you.

[@CostaRicaLaw]

UAE is not a member of the apostille treaty so you will need to have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to authenticate your marriage certificate. From there you will need to have the Embassy of Finland certify the document. Contact the Finish embassy in UAE for more details. finlandabroad.fi/web/are/mission/-/asset_publisher/dqNr4C30tdPU/contactInfoOrganization/id/121023

[@lisachronic7598]

Hello, thank you for the information! I was born in California but now I am married and live in Florida. When submitting my certified birth certificate to the CA Secretary of State to Apostille, does it matter that the name on my birth certificate is my maiden name? Do I need to provide a copy of my (Florida) marriage license? If so, does the Florida marriage license need to be Apostille from Florida Secretary of State? I may be overthinking it all, but haven't found any information on name change with this process. Your help is greatly appreciated!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The birth certificate will show the name you were born with so that is what it is and you just get it certified and apostilled. Yes. you also need to get your marriage license certified and apostilled to show the reason for the name change.

[@lisachronic7598]

@@CostaRicaLaw Thank you!

[@donangel8834]

What page did you use to submit your birth certificate to get it apostille in California? I live in indiana but I’m trying to send my birth certificate through mail to get it apostille. How long does it take to get it back once sent?

[@aztecwarrior7373]

A person marrying a South American in the U.S does the person from S.A need to get a Aposille??

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If you are referring to Costa Rican Immigration processing then the answer would be yes. All documents coming from any country that will be used for Costa Rica immigration must be apostilled. If your question is about marriage requriements in the US then you would need to determine the local state where you will get married to find out what they require as part of the marriage registration process.

[@aztecwarrior7373]

Actually, Venezuela

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@aztecwarrior7373 Ok then you would need to determine the local state where you will get married to find out what they require as part of the marriage registration process

[@aztecwarrior7373]

@@CostaRicaLaw we are debating between Nevada or Arizona.

[@S-anniee]

Oh gosh I had my birth certificate mailed out of country already. Does that mean I have to mail it back to any state for it to be apostille (or my birth state)? Im no longer in the U.S. Is there any other way, like an online procedure/fax?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The birth certificate has to be apostilled by the State that issued the certification. If you are not in the US there are companies online that will offer those services for you.

[@mamavitaemusic]

@@CostaRicaLawdo you happen to know the info of the companies?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@mamavitaemusic Hello. Try apostille.ong/

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@mamavitaemusic hi try apostille.ong/

[@lr7955]

Thanks very helpful

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad to hear that! Thank you

[@jovannacabreja1488]

Excelente video thanks 🙏

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad you liked it! and thank you for watching and you feedback

[@mariefrancoisdooley6188]

If I need to apostille a power of attorney from germany in the US for a sibling to sell my share of properties. Do I need to apostille a power of attorney in English or what

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You are best to consult with the US title company that is handling the closing to determine what requirements they have for the POA. Generally it would be in your language with an attached official translation and both the document and translation apostilled.

[@beverlytaylor7003]

Thanks so much!!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for watching

[@evanramos6665]

Who do you put down as the requestor name

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The country or agency where the document is going to be used

[@RafaelTorresMaldonado]

Very helpful ty!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for your comment and glad you found it helpful

[@nidiamercedes1977]

Excellent!

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Glad you liked it!

[@sblkay6315]

Hi! I'm a bit confused. So, if I have a Verification of Identity for US citizens form, how would I Apostille that? Do I have to go through the FBI?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If it is a Federal form then it goes to the Department of State for the Apostille. travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document/office-of-authentications.html

[@sblkay6315]

@@CostaRicaLaw how can I tell if it's Federal?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@sblkay6315 Where did yoy apply for this "Verification of Identity for US citizens" in a local state office or a federal office ?

[@sblkay6315]

@@CostaRicaLaw well, it's for my dad and I'm not sure. Is there a way to tell what kind of documents are Federal or state just by the type of document it is?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

@@sblkay6315 Just ask the agency where you got the document that you need it Apostilled and have them tell you which process you need to follow. That seems the easier approach.

[@vidvaaneducationalguidance3002]

Hlo distance education mode certificates valid or not for this apostille. For qatar

[@CostaRicaLaw]

You need to contact the particular apostille agency as we focus mainly on immigration.

[@alejandroreinoso2842]

donde verificar mi apostilla si es legitima

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Si es una apostilla de Costa Rica la puedes verificar en el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. www.rree.go.cr/?sec=servicios&cat=autenticaciones&cont=726 Si es de otro pais los haces con el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de tu pais.

[@nadirahcroom1938]

Should the apostille be stapled to the document?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

The Apostille is attached by the government official that is processing the document. It generally comes stapled or sealed to the original document so that they are not separated

[@nadirahcroom1938]

@@CostaRicaLaw OK so basically I, as the notary, have to fill out the request for the apostille, collect the document from the person and then mail or send it to the state?

[@pinaybisdakmama8862]

hi can i apostille special power of atty. to be use in philippines?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi. Best to consult an Attorney in the Phillipines to answer that question. If the POA from Costa Rica to Phillipines you can consult the Honorary consul of the Phillipines in Costa Rica. Teléfono: ([phone] / 8841 5203/ 8706 4587 Email: [e-mail]

[@jaironeil8903]

Thank you... loved the video

[@nonyabusiness9747]

Hi there! Where can I email you?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Sure. Here is my contact conform. plawcr.com/contact/

[@davidmdz45]

How long does that document take to be sent?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

That varies from State to State and if it is a Federal Apostille. It can be anywhere from a 1 to 3 weeks but I suggest you check out the website for the Apoostille agency where you are processing the document to get exact time frames.

[@davidmdz45]

@@CostaRicaLaw Thanks, but also if I'm not bothering you, is it normal that is taking almost over a month?

[@yujirohanma5932]

How long does this take?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

That depends on the State where you are getting the Apostille. Some are few days other weeks. Check with the Secretary of State of each State or for Federal documents then the US Department of State.

[@yujirohanma5932]

@@CostaRicaLaw the state is south Carolina and Florida, any info please?

[@luisantonioperezjahuira6361]

How can I verify the Apostille document online?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

If the Apostille is issued by a US state then you will have to contact the Secretary of State of each state to determine the Apostille verification process. They are all required to maintian a registry of apostilled documents. For example the State of California does have an online verification system in place. apostille-search.sos.ca.gov/ By visiting the website of the Secretary of State that issued the apostille you will be able to determine if they have online verification system in place. If they don't, it would have to be done by a phone call.

[@attilaszemerei6838]

@@CostaRicaLaw several countries have an electronic (online) register and anyone can check the ID code or number of the apostille. but this is a very specific question, most of countries have just a "paper-based" register, which means, you have to turn to the embassy and they will contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification. (lately there are lots of false apostilled documents, so authorities often ask for verification. )

[@HeWhoFlewFromInwood]

It takes way too long to get this done now

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Thank you for your comment. Yes. due to Covid we are noticing delays in the processing of Apostille requests

[@aahilloudres5147]

What’s an Apple Steal

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Here is the definition for you: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_Convention

[@patrynaswritings7617]

Thanks cost?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Hi and thank you for the question. The costs vary from State to State. For example, Florida charges $10 to Apostille a document. Most states are in that range of $10 to $20. Best to check the website for the Secretary of State for your state and they will list the exact fees. The same applies to get a certified public document. For example, a birth certificate can run from $9 to $30 depending on the state. Private companies can also process the document for you and those costs are in the $30 - $50 range again depending on the State. Here is the link to a summary of costs State by State: ballotpedia.org/Birth_certificate_costs_by_state,_2018 You can compare that with the pricing of a private company. Go to their pricing info and they will set out their prices for all 50 states. www.vitalchek.com/

[@Lovely24by7]

Can I apostille in any state?

[@CostaRicaLaw]

All 50 states have an Apostille process. You can apostille documents with the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued.

[@aztecwarrior7373]

So, a client come to me, who is a U.S citizen and want his birth certificate Aposillize because he/ she wants to move Costa Rica/ Mexico wherever, the client will bring me a Aposille form with the document he wants Aposillize , I do my magic and wola! Done correct??

[@CostaRicaLaw]

Correct. Costa Rica will accept the birth certificate once Apostilled

[@aztecwarrior7373]

@@CostaRicaLaw thank you!

[@againagain394]

Yystle

[@FM-qe8up]

Go directly to your State Department or through an approved professional service provider who knows exactly what they are doing: www.apostillenearme.com. Most of these youtube actors refrain from going through the consequences and the undue stress that comes along when an apostille is done incorrectly. Please be advised and thank you.

[@ENDOFTIMES9999]

If I need to have the document translated. Do I do that before the apostille ? Or after

[@CostaRicaLaw]

We generally have it apostilled first and then hire a translator to translate since the signature of the translator would have to be notarized and apostilled separate since your document would have two signatures.

[@daniellagos2338]

How can a i get a certificate in a foreing country

[@CostaRicaLaw]

In each country the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the particular country that issued a document is the department in charge of issuing an Apostille. Here is the official list of all countries that participate in the hague treaty and the contact of the authority. www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41

[@itiiyt]

Can you apostile 2 documents at the same time ?

[@hdbf4e]

Great video! One question, can it be done in person the apostille process of a university diploma and grade certificate(for florida)

[@CostaRicaLaw]

I would suggest contacting the Florida Secretary of State Apostille division with that question since it would be their department handling it. Here is the link: dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/