General Questions
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What is an apostille?
Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (commonly known as the Apostille Convention.) The Apostille Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention. With this certification, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification by the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office or legalization by the embassy or consulate is required.
The apostille authenticates the signature and seal of the issuing public official or notary public and is not valid for use anywhere within the United States of America, its territories or possessions. It does not authenticate the contents of the document. The apostille is a single sheet of paper, in a highly structured format, bearing the state seal of Georgia and is attached to your document.
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Are there other locations in Georgia that can issue apostilles?
The GSCCCA is the only agency that can issue apostilles and Atlanta is the only location. For mailing instructions, see Submitting Documents to the GSCCCA – Fees, Office Hours and Mailing Instructions.
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How long does the process take?
If documents are brought to our office, depending on the number of documents submitted, it typically takes less then twenty minutes. The GSCCCA reserves the right to limit the number of documents presented to our office on a while-you-wait service. If documents are mailed to our office, the processing time is normally one to two business days.
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What do I need to send and where do I send it?
See Submitting Documents to the GSCCCA – Fees, Office Hours and Mailing Instructions.
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What are your office hours?
Apostilles are issued 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary.
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What are the fees?
See Submitting Documents to the GSCCCA – Fees, Office Hours and Mailing Instructions.
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My destination country is not listed in the country list on your website. What do I do?
If your country is not listed, it is not a participant of the Apostille Convention (The Hague Treaty Convention 12). You must contact the Georgia Secretary of State for the Great Seal Certification. (Phone number: 404-656-2871; website: http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/great_seal)
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Can the GSCCCA issue apostilles for out-of-state documents?
No. Each state is responsible for authenticating documents issued by that state.
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I have a document signed and sealed by a federal agency. What should I do?
Contact the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office (www.state.gov/m/a/auth).
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My document is in a foreign language. Do I need to translate it into English before I get the apostille?
No. The language of the document is not relevant. The apostille is for the purpose of authenticating the signature and seal of the notary public and if the document was properly notarized.
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I have an old birth/death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree. Can you apostille that?
The apostille process compares your document's issuing public official's signature to those we have on file. For older documents, we may not have that signature on file. If your document was issued prior to the year 2000, the GSCCCA recommends you obtain a new certified copy.
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What does an apostille look like?
An apostille is a single sheet of paper that is in an internationally agreed-upon format, containing ten distinct items. The apostille will be attached to your document.
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What forms of payment are accepted?
See Submitting Documents to the GSCCCA – Fees, Office Hours and Mailing Instructions.
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Does the apostille authenticate the contents of the document?
No. The apostille authenticates the signature and seal of the issuing public official or notary public and is not valid for use anywhere within the United States of America, its territories or possessions.
Document Specific Questions
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I'm adopting a child from another country. What should I do?
We highly encourage adoptive parents to contact our office prior to document submission to insure their documents have been prepared correctly and satisfy our requirements.
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How do I get an apostille for a birth or death certificate?
The birth/death certificate must be an official certified copy issued by the Georgia Department of Community Health or the County Probate Court or Health Department and preferably have been issued since the year 2000. It must contain the issuing state or county official's signature and seal of office. Additional certified copies can be obtained from the Georgia Department of Community Health (404-679-4702, https://dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords) or the Probate Court or Health Department. Some vital records can be ordered online at www.vitalchek.com. The documents must be submitted to the GSCCCA for the apostille.
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I need to apostille a marriage certificate or marriage license. What should I do?
The marriage certificate/license must be an official certified copy issued by the county Probate Court and preferably have been issued since the year 2000.
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How do I get an apostille on a divorce decree?
The divorce decree must be an official certified copy issued by the county issued by the county Clerk of Superior Court and preferably have been issued since the year 2000.
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I need apostilles on my school transcripts, grades, or diplomas. How should they be prepared?
- School transcripts/grades: These must be signed by an issuing official of the school in the presence of a notary public. Only transcripts/grades from Georgia schools can be apostilled in Georgia. The simplest method is for a school official (principal, guidance counselor, registrar, etc.) to write a simple letter stating that the attached are the official school documents for this student. Detailed instructions which can be given to the school are located in the Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous Forms Section.
- Diplomas: A Georgia notary public may make a certified copy of the original diploma. The notary must state that this is a “true and exact copy of the original” and the apostille is affixed to the photocopy. See Copy Certification by Notary Public in the Notary Files & Forms – Notarial Certificates Section for sample language.
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I need an apostille on a Criminal Record Check/Letter of Good Conduct. How is this done?
There are three law enforcement agencies who can issue criminal record checks. National record checks are conducted by the FBI (www.fbi.gov); statewide record checks are conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI www.gbi.georgia.gov), and your local police department. You should contact the destination country to determine which type of record check is being requested.
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FBI record checks that have been signed by an FBI Division official and have the FBI seal must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office (www.state.gov/m/a/auth). If the FBI record check has not been signed and sealed by an FBI official, complete the Criminal Records Check affidavit and sign it in the presence of any Georgia notary public. This affidavit is located in the Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous Forms Section.
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GBI record checks that have been signed by a GBI official and that official's signature was witnessed by a notary are ready for the apostille.
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Local Police Agencies: An issuing police agency official should sign the results of the record check and that signature must be witnessed by a Georgia notary. If they have done so, your document is ready for the apostille. Police agencies often do not notarize the records check. If this is the case, complete the Criminal Records Check affidavit and sign it in the presence of any Georgia notary public. This affidavit is located in the Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous Forms Section.
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The destination country is requesting apostilles on translations. Are there any special rules?
A translator must sign an affidavit stating that they know English and the language the document is translated into, and that this is a true and complete translation. They must sign this affidavit in the presence of a Georgia notary. The notary cannot act as the translator and the notary for a translated document. See Translator Affidavit Certificate in the Notary Files & Forms – Notarial Certificates Section for sample language.
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I need to send our corporate documents filed with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division with an apostille to another country. What should I do?
These must be certified copies issued by the current Secretary of State. These can be certified copies issued directly from their office or they can be certified copies downloaded from their website. The Corporations Division phone number is 404 656-2817.
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I need an apostille on a copy of my U.S. Passport. How do I accomplish this?
A Georgia notary public may make a certified copy of a U.S. Passport using the passport holder's affidavit and certified copy guidelines provided by the GSCCCA. The GSCCCA requires the use of the passport affidavit form located in the Notary Files & Forms – Passport Affidavit Section.
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I need an apostille on a copy of my foreign passport. What do I need to do?
The passport holder makes a photocopy of the passport and completes the Foreign Passport Affidavit located in the Notary Files & Forms – Passport Affidavit Section.
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I am getting married in another country and they are requesting a Single Status Letter/Letter of No Impediment. What is that?
Unlike many other countries, there is no standard Certificate of Freedom to Marry document that exists in the United States. Often a notarized, sworn affidavit will suffice (see Single Status Affidavit in the Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous Forms Section for sample language). If the destination country requires a marriage records search issued by a government agency, contact the Georgia Department of Community Health (404-679-4702) or the county probate court. Documents issued by the Georgia Department of Community Health or the probate court must have the signature and seal of the issuing Georgia state or county official.
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I need to obtain an apostille on a professional license (physicians, CPA, adoption agencies, etc.). How do I accomplish this?
The holder of the license makes a photocopy of the document and must sign an affidavit in the presence of a Georgia notary stating that this is a true and exact copy of the license. See Copy Certification by Document Custodian in the Notary Files & Forms – Notarial Certificates Section for sample language.
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My warranty deed needs an apostille. What should I do?
The warranty deed must be a certified copy issued by the county Clerk of Superior Court.
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I need to obtain an apostille on my driver's license or vehicle title. What should I do?
The holder of the license or title makes a photocopy of the document and must sign an affidavit in the presence of a Georgia notary stating that this is a true and exact copy of the document. See Copy Certification by Document Custodian in the Notary Files & Forms – Notarial Certificates Section for sample language.