What Is an Apostille and How Do You Get One?
You need to use your birth certificate, marriage certificate, or a power of attorney in Mexico, Colombia, or another country that recognizes the Hague Apostille Convention — and someone told you it needs to be "apostilled." Before you stand in the wrong line, here's what you actually need to know.
What exactly is an apostille?
It's a certificate confirming that a public document (a birth certificate, marriage certificate, power of attorney, diploma) is authentic and was issued by a legitimate authority. Once apostilled, that document is automatically recognized in any other country that's part of the Hague Convention — no additional legalization steps needed.
Mexico has been a member of the convention since 1995, and so has most of Latin America. That means if your document was issued in the US and you need to use it there, the apostille is all it takes.
How to get one for free (or close to it), step by step
Get a certified copy of the original document
For a birth or marriage certificate, request it from the Vital Records office of the state where the birth or marriage took place — not necessarily the state you live in now.
Identify the right Secretary of State office
It's the office of the SAME state that issued the document — not the state you currently live in, if they're different.
Submit the document along with the processing fee
Each state charges a modest fee for the apostille stamp — well below what a third party charges to "handle it" for you.
Wait for the stamp, and you're done
Processing time varies by state — anywhere from a few days to a few weeks by mail. Once stamped, the document is valid in Mexico or any other convention country.
When does it make sense to pay a third party?
Private "expedite" services exist that handle the entire process for you, for a fee — useful if you're far from the state that issued your document, need the stamp urgently, or would simply rather not deal with forms and certified mail yourself. It's not required to get an apostille in the first place — you're paying to save time and hassle, not for access to the process itself.
Wyra doesn't have a specific vetted partner for this particular process yet — if your state's process feels slow or confusing, search "apostille service" along with your state's name, and compare at least two options before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Mexican (or another) consulate apostille my document?
No. A consulate has no authority to apostille a document issued in the United States — that authority belongs exclusively to the state that issued the original document.
How long does it take?
It varies a lot by state — anywhere from a few days to several weeks by mail. Some states offer same-day in-person service.
Does an apostille work for any country?
Only for countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention — most of Latin America is, but confirm the specific case for your country before starting.
Do I also need to translate the document?
It depends on who's receiving it in the other country. If you need a certified translation in addition to the apostille, check our certified translation guide.