Apostille vs Authentication: What’s the Difference in Florida?
Apostille vs Authentication: What’s the Difference in Florida?
Not all international document certifications are the same. Here’s the difference between an apostille and an authentication in Florida.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is issued for documents being sent to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. It certifies the authenticity of the signature or seal on a document.
What Is Authentication?
Authentication is used when the destination country is NOT part of the Hague Convention. It may require additional steps, including certification by the U.S. Department of State and legalization through the foreign embassy or consulate.
Key Difference: Apostilles are for Hague Convention countries. Authentication is for non-Hague countries.
How Do You Know Which One You Need?
- Confirm whether your destination country is part of the Hague Convention
- Check the document requirements from the receiving authority
- Verify if additional embassy legalization is required
Unsure which process applies to you? We can help determine whether your document requires an apostille or authentication.
