An apostille is a globally approved authentication certification that is recognized by all nations who are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. The U.S. Passport must go through the legalization procedure at the Embassy or Consulate of the destination nation for non-member countries.
If you are reluctant to mail your Passport to our Washington, D.C. office, you can meet with a local notary who will copy certify a color copy of your Passport.
Depending on the country, you may need to color copy each page of your Passport or just the page with your picture. In most cases, it’s just the picture & signature. Be sure to double-check with the requesting country in order to avoid any delays or additional costs.
It’s important to work with a professional notary with years of experience and one who will follow the notarial rules and guidelines in their State. For example, in the State of California, a California Copy Certification by Document Custodian form will be used by the Notary. In other States, they will have similar forms.