The process of authenticating documents for use in foreign countries can be complex and lengthy. The 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents reduces this process to a single authentication certificate known as an apostille or a “certificate of authentication.”

Whether you need to Ohio apostille service your documents and whether an apostille or full legalization is required depends on both which country issued the document and the type of document. The Department of State only provides apostilles for documents that have been issued in states that have signed the Hague Convention. Apostilles cannot be provided for federally-issued documents and documents that have been notarized in a county clerk’s office outside of New York State. The Hague Conference website provides a list of Competent Authorities for obtaining an apostille and additional resources.

How long will it take to process my apostille?

The timeframe to complete the process of obtaining an apostille is dependent on several factors, including: the number of documents submitted, the need for pre-authentication and the courier services used. Document preparation can also add several days to the overall timeline.

Once your document has been processed and notarized at John Jay College, you will need to bring the certified and sealed documents to the Brooklyn County Clerk’s Office for final Apostille certification. The total process takes an average of 4-6 weeks. Once all steps are completed, you can submit your document(s) to DIRCO. Please review the DIRCO website for their fees and address information.