The short answer
An apostille is used for countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Authentication (also called legalization) is used for countries that are not part of the Convention.
How Hague countries work
For Hague member countries, one certificate — the apostille — is all that's needed. It's issued by a designated authority (a state office or the U.S. Department of State) and is recognized by every other Hague member.
How non-Hague countries work
For non-Hague countries, the document goes through a chain: notary or state certification, then U.S. Department of State authentication, then legalization at the destination country's embassy or consulate.
What's changed recently
Several major countries — including China (2023) and Canada (2024) — joined the Hague Convention over the past few years, converting from legalization to apostille. The UAE remains a non-Hague country and still requires full consular legalization.
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