Apostille Requirements by Country
Quick reference for the most common destinations — Hague status, typical documents, translation needs, and processing timelines.
Spain
Spain accepts documents authenticated with an apostille under the Hague Convention. Most U.S. records used in Spain need a certified copy first, then an apostille from the state that issued the document — or from the U.S. Department of State for federal records.
Italy
Italy is a Hague member and accepts apostilles. Applicants pursuing Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) usually need certified long-form vital records, each apostilled, plus a certified Italian translation.
Portugal
Portugal accepts apostilled documents from the U.S. Applicants for D7, D8, and Golden Visa residency typically need an FBI background check apostilled by the U.S. Department of State and a certified translation into Portuguese.
Mexico
Mexico is a Hague member. U.S. documents used in Mexico are authenticated with an apostille from the state that issued the record, with a certified Spanish translation performed in Mexico by a perito traductor.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. U.S. documents destined for the UAE require full consular legalization rather than an apostille, followed by MoFA attestation after arrival in-country.
India
India accepts apostilles. Documents from the U.S. are authenticated with an apostille from the issuing state or the U.S. Department of State for federal records. Translations are typically not required if the original document is in English.
China
Mainland China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023. U.S. documents used in China now need only an apostille — the older Chinese consulate legalization process is no longer required for most documents.
France
France accepts apostilles. U.S. vital records used in France for marriage, PACS, or citizenship require a certified copy, an apostille from the issuing state, and a sworn translation by a traducteur assermenté in France.
Brazil
Brazil accepts apostilles. Documents are apostilled in the U.S. and then translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado) registered in Brazil.
Canada
Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention in January 2024. U.S. documents used in Canada are now authenticated with an apostille from the issuing state or the U.S. Department of State for federal records, replacing the older Global Affairs Canada authentication.
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