noun

apostille

uh-POS-teel

Apostille (noun) means an official certificate attached to a public document that confirms the signature, seal or stamp on it is genuine, so the document is accepted in other countries that belong to the Hague Convention. Example: “You will need an apostille on your birth certificate before the Spanish authorities will accept it.”

noun

An official certificate attached to a public document that confirms the signature, seal or stamp on it is genuine, so the document is accepted in other countries that belong to the Hague Convention.

"You will need an apostille on your birth certificate before the Spanish authorities will accept it."

"The solicitor arranged an apostille for the power of attorney within three working days."

verb

To attach such a certificate to a document.

"The degree transcripts must be apostilled before they are sent abroad."

How to Use Apostille

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stamp that proves a document is genuine so another country will accept it.

When to use it

Legal and administrative. In everyday speech people usually say 'getting the papers apostilled'.

Memory tip

An apostille is issued by a designated government authority, not by the notary or solicitor who witnessed the document.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

notarisation legalisation apostle →

Common pairings

apostille certificate obtain an apostille apostilled documents Hague apostille

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Can you complete this real example?

You will need an _____ on your birth certificate before the Spanish authorities will accept it.

Etymology

From French apostille 'annotation, marginal note', from apostiller 'to add a note'.

Origin: French

Synonyms

View more →

authentication certificate legalisation certificate

Rhymes for apostille

ville Lille Seville Braille Camille Lucille Orville Deville DeMille Bastille Melville reveille

See all rhymes for apostille →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between notarisation and an apostille?

A notary verifies who signed a document and witnesses the signature, which works within one country's legal system. An apostille goes a step further and certifies that the notary or official is genuine, which is what makes the document usable abroad.

Which countries accept an apostille?

Any country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, which covers well over a hundred states. For countries outside the convention, documents usually need the longer route of consular legalisation instead.