An Apostille, when completed, is a form of certification established by Article 3 of the Hague Convention of 5th October 1961, which "abolish(es) the requirement of diplomatic or consular legalisation for foreign public documents" by certifying the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which a person who signed the document has acted, and identifies the seal or stamp which the document bears.

The USA signed the Hague Convention in 1981: Canada and New Zealand have not yet done so. As of October 2002, 62 countries were subscribers, including the U.K. and Ireland, Australia and South Africa.

The Apostille is sometimes known as a "legal marginal note." In countries who have not subscribed, there is an alternative offered for translations. The procedure involves going through a District Court in the Netherlands, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It might be easier changing your country of residence!

The form (as shown above) consists of standard numbered fields, which allows the data in each field to be understood by any receiving country regardless of the language of the issuing country.

Each country decides who may issue an Apostille for their jurisdiction. In the USA it may be the Secretary of State of the various States, or whoever he may delegate to sign on his behalf - perhaps the County Recorder.

Check the list of countries which have signed the Hague Convention