Apostille Definition and Meaning

Want to know what is the meaning of an Apostille is? An apostille authenticates the originality of a public document, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, degree, etc. It is an attestation of your original or copied documents when you plan to travel abroad. It is usually issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). An apostille is only valid in countries that are members of the Hague Convention.

In India, the Apostille meaning is simply an International Attestation that is provided in the original documents by the MEA for VISA purposes when you travel to a foreign country. An apostille stamp is used behind the original document to prove that it is verified.  

Things You Must Know About Apostille  

In 1961, there was a treaty signed by many countries that came together and decided to create a process that simplifies the legalization process for documents. This was known as the Hague Convention Act, and the countries involved were those that were signatories to the Hague Convention. 

In most countries, the apostille services are provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the equivalent department of that country. You can search for apostille services near me and find out the place where you can get it done. 

Apostille and a Notary are both types of authentication, but they are different from each other. A notary is used within a country, while an Apostille is used when you are traveling abroad. However, Notarization is a prerequisite before an apostille is issued.

An Apostille birth certificate is the most common document because it is needed for the visa in most countries. Other documents depend on what visa you are travelling under. 

In the US, an apostille is issued by the state government's office in different places. For example, if you want a Texas apostille, then it will be issued by the Office of the Texas Secretary of State.