Apostilles are designed for international use, ensuring that documents are legally recognized in foreign countries. Notarization, conversely, is a process that primarily validates documents for use within a specific jurisdiction or country.
IS APPOINTMENT REQUIRED TO CLAIM AN APOSTILLE? Appointment is not required for claiming apostilles that are filed in DFA Aseana. For documents forwarded by CHED with Authentication Stub, appointment is required to process for authentication.
An apostille is issued by your Secretary of State's office or Notary commissioning agency. The single apostille is the only certification needed. Once prepared and verified, the apostille is attached to and sent along with the notarized documents. Notaries cannot issue apostilles themselves.