To simplify the difference between Hague and Non-Hague courtiers, let us say that you have a "Power of Attorney" issued in the United States, and you want to use it in Mexico, you have to sign your "POA" in front a notary then mail your document to your state to obtain an Apostille. That is all. Your document is ready for use in Mexico.
Let us say that you want to use your "POA" in Kuwait, you have to sign your "POA" in front a notary then mail your document to your state, because Kuwait is a Non-Hague country, most of the states will issue an Apostille, they will issue a regular certification, some states they issue Apostille (example California). Next step, you have to mail your "POA" to the U.S. Department of State in D.C. to obtain a federal authentication. Finally you mail it to the embassy of Kuwait who will certify the authentication of the U.S. Department of State. You may also need to obtain the stamp of the US Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Dealing between two Hague participating countries is simple and easy. Dealing with a Non-Hague participated countries is formal, and takes a long time.Frequently Asked Questions about California Apostille
1.Which documents are eligible for Apostille California Services?
California corporate and federal documents are acceptable for the apostille service from US apostille. We may provide expedited authentication services for California certifications from the MD Secretary of State within just One Business Day. Please, contact our customer service for confirmation first.
Examples of California Corporate documents:
2.Does US apostille authenticate any other California Documents?
US apostille authenticates federal documents issued in California from the US Department of State in Washington DC. Examples of Federal agencies are:
3.Where do I obtain certified copies of vital records such as certificates of birth, death and marriage from the state of California?
Vital Records can be obtained by contacting your Town Clerk or the Department of Public Health, Vital Records Unit.
4.In which country may I use an Apostille issued by the state California?
California Apostille is acceptable for all types of California documents destined for use in one of the Hague Convention Participating Countries .
Click here to see a list of all Apostille countries
6.Do I need to obtain an Embassy Legalization for a document issued in the state of California?
All Non-Hague Convention Participating Countries require a regular certification for all documents issued in the state of California. Furthermore, these documents must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and legalized by the embassy of the destination foreign country.
7.How will the state of California return the apostille back to me?
If you provide a prepaid shipping label for FedEx, UPS, or the US Postal Service, the State of California will return it using that method.
8.What documents can I have apostille?
The State of California can only apostille documents signed by an California state public official. Such as:
- Apostille for California Notaries Public documents.
- Apostille for Town Clerks documents.
- Apostille for Local Registrars of Vital Statistics documents.
- Apostille for Clerks and Assistant Clerks of the Superior and Probate Courts documents.
- Apostille for Commissioners of California State Agencies documents.
9.What documents CANNOT be apostilled?
- Apostille for documents signed by an out-of-state notary.
- Apostille for documents issued by the federal government. These documents need to be submitted to the U.S. State Department.
- Out-of-state vital records or court documents Apostille. These documents need to be submitted to the issuing state.
- Out-of-state school transcripts Apostille. These documents must be apostilled by the state in which the school is located.