Anonymous
Amazing service and had support throughout the whole process . Special thanks to Ghelyn for helping us throughout and getting the visa within 1 month of starting . Very h…
2026-06-08
Apostille & embassy legalization service without the hassle
Apostille, authentication and embassy legalization — handled end-to-end in a single order.
1M+ travelers served Your documents are in safe hands 20+ years of expertise Hague Apostille & non-Hague legalization
Customer reviews — independently verified by Reviews.io
EXCELLENTTom
Avigail worked with me to shepherd my visa application to China through and got it approved in two weeks and two days, including weekends and a holiday (13 working days t…
2026-06-04
Ali
Good morning Wow very nice service U have Given all information Thank you so much
2026-05-16
Anonymous
VisaHQ was very helpful and responsive in assisting me with my business visa application process. Highly recommended.
2026-05-08
Liza
A huge thank you to Michelle, who helped me through the application process which I started way later than I should have. I am one of the people who find administrative w…
2026-05-08
Mr&Mrs K
Jenny, I can't believe you made the impossible happen. Your dedication and professionalism are evident in all your efforts. We appreciate your attention to detail as you…
2026-05-08
Farhan S
Nice talk with supprt team
2026-05-03
Anonymous
Charlene Dadson Visa HQ helped me one two occasion and there services was amazing. Their communication and professionalism is 10/10 Very considerate and they guide you th…
2026-05-01
Lloyd K
I was assisted by Iryna with my Cote D'Ivoire visa application. She was very helpful and guided me expertly throughout the entire process until VISA approval. She was alw…
2026-05-01
Anonymous
Michelle provided excellent support during my Schengen visa.
2026-04-28
Dimitri
High Quality service made by Mrs. Iryna Opanasiuk, she respond quick, precise and got my request done in a timely manner. Ver efficient and target oriented. Thank you!!
2026-04-24
Michelle
Blessy was incredibly patient and helpful in answering my questions on how to complete my visa application for China. The online application is a bit buggy, with some par…
2026-04-24
DannyLamar
I have been using VisaHQ for 18 years and each time the visa service has been fast and accurate. I would not say they are "cheap" but, for the value I received, the cost…
2026-04-13
Lito G
Both Angel Virgilio Pantaleon Jr. & May Ann Valeriano provided us with an outstanding customer services, they both exceeded my expectations. Their customer service demean…
2026-04-10
Anonymous
Michelle helped to ensure that I got my passport before I left for my trip. She saw that I had marked the wrong processing time online and emailed me to verify. She then…
2026-04-09
Anonymous
J'aurais voulu aller au Canada pour aller étudier et ce former en même temps si vous me permettez
2026-04-06
John C
I rate visahq 100% visahq makes everything easy and doesn't need more paper work John Griffin Carter Papua New Guinea
2026-04-03
Gareth
Friendly, polite, professional - Excellent!
2026-04-02
Dharmendra O
Judelyn Zapico, Thank you for all your help and courteous approach through out visa application. Till last minutes unwearyingly supported with very professional approach
2026-03-31
Anonymous
My passport arrived quickly and my VisaHQ contact - Michelle R, was fantastic. She always responded quickly and made the process so easy! Thank you, Michelle!
2026-03-26
Karina
Bessy, fue muy amable y resolvió mis dudas sin demora!!! No estaba segura si mis padres podían viajar sin visa de tránsito a España desde Perú con residencia temporal de…
2026-03-22
Jose M
I am so happy for your service, you gave me all information but I have issue because still I am waiting visa which was approved last week wheresas I have to travel next w…
2026-03-08
Rose R
Very helpful and efficient. Thank you
2026-03-02
Rafael A
Very smooth process and you are updated
2026-03-01
Anonymous
Dear Michelle, I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your incredible patience and excellent guidance throughout the process of completing all the required…
2026-02-27
Celso S
Estoy en trámite de Visa, y llamé al Call Center donde recibí magnífica atención de Blessy. Fue muy amable y respondió a mis consultas. Muchas gracias
2026-02-27
Al
Aiko Matsuda is not only beautiful but she was very helpful and knowledgeable. I needed extra assistance and she had alot of patience, and was able to walk me through my…
2026-02-26
Anonymous
I had a great experience applying for my business visitor visa through VisaHQ. They responded very promptly to all my emails and maintained excellent communication throug…
2026-02-26
Nidhi C
I was assisted by Brigete Gravino, she understood the ask right away. helped at every step of process and totally transparent about the dealings(also got a refund as I ov…
2026-02-20
PPOP
Prompt Courteous
2026-02-19
Simple 3-step process
How document apostille works — from notarized paperwork to embassy-ready
Skip the government phone trees and shipping runs. We orchestrate every authority involved and ship your legalized documents back to you.
1
Place your order
Use our guided wizard to tell us where your document was notarized and where it's headed. We instantly show the exact chain of authentications required.
2
Forward documents
Mail us your notarized originals with a prepaid label. We handle every local and national authority involved, and the destination country's embassy.
3
Receive legalized docs
Get your fully apostilled or legalized documents back, tracked and ready for official use abroad. Real-time status updates every step of the way.
Why AuthenticationHQ
Why choose our apostille service
Two decades of relationships with state offices, federal agencies, and embassies — translated into speed you can actually see.
Expedited turnaround
Priority handling on every major government channel. Rush service available for urgent deadlines.
Secure chain of custody
Tracked shipping, insured transit, and audit-logged handoffs between every government authority.
Dedicated experts
Call center, live chat, and a personal advisor who actually knows your destination country's quirks.
Itemized, transparent pricing
Every government fee, shipping cost and service charge itemized up-front. No surprises between quote and delivery.
What is legalization?
What is document legalization?
Document legalization is a form of authentication that foreign governments require in order for your paperwork to be accepted across their borders.
Depending on the destination, this could mean a single Hague apostille — or a full multi-step chain through your national authorities and the destination country's embassy.
Every country has its own requirements, and they change often. Our wizard figures out the exact path for you, so there's no guesswork, no rejected documents, and no second trip to the notary. Contact VisaHQ.
Hague Apostille Embassy legalization Authentication & translation
Documents we frequently legalize 9 common types
- Academic documents, such as degrees and diplomas
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Business contracts
- Certificates of Incorporation
- Certificates of No Impediment
- Documents issued by British Overseas Territories
- Export certificates
- Religious documents, such as baptism certificates
Behind the scenes
Behind embassy legalization: 3 authorities, one provider
Document legalization for non-Hague countries frequently involves your state government, the federal government, and the destination country's embassy. Each has its own forms, fees, and turnaround. We shuttle your paperwork between every step.
Local authority
Authentication from the competent local authority in the jurisdiction where your document was notarized or issued.
National government
National-level authentication, typically by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for documents that require verification before going abroad. Nationally issued documents start at this step.
Embassy legalization
Final legalization by the destination country's embassy or consulate to make the document officially valid there.
Common questions
Apostille FAQ — straight answers, no fine print
The most common questions we get about apostilles, authentication and embassy legalization.
How much does apostille or embassy legalization cost?
The fee depends on the document, the issuing authority and the destination country. You see a complete, itemized quote — government fees, our service fee and shipping — before you commit.
What’s the difference between an apostille and embassy legalization?
An apostille is a single certificate that’s accepted by all 120+ Hague Convention countries. Embassy legalization is required by countries outside the Hague Convention — it adds a federal-level authentication and a stamp from the destination country’s embassy. Tell us where the document is going and we’ll tell you which path applies.
How long does apostille or embassy legalization take?
Apostilles typically take 5–10 business days; embassy legalization runs 2–4 weeks depending on the country. Expedited options are available with many authorities. You’ll see a firm timeline before you commit.
Do I need to send the original document, or is a copy allowed?
You need to send either the original notarized document or a Certified Copy — a copy made and notarized by a local notary, which is then accepted by the competent authority or at VisaHQ offices. Plain scans or photocopies without notarization are not accepted. If you don’t have an original, we can help you obtain one.
Is my document safe with AuthenticationHQ?
Every document is tracked from the moment it leaves your hands until it’s back in them. We ship via insured couriers, log each hand-off and never leave documents unattended. VisaHQ has handled millions of originals since 2003 without incident.
Do you work with corporate clients on bulk apostille?
Yes. Our business team handles bulk corporate authentication — export certificates, Powers of Attorney, Certificates of Incorporation, FDA certificates — with dedicated account managers, invoicing and custom SLAs. VisaHQ for Business ›
What is an apostille?
Apostille (French for “Certification”) is an internationally recognized verification mechanism. Apostilles certify a document for all 110+ nations who have ratified the Hague Convention, the same way that notarization certifies a document domestically. It provides a standardized, global framework for authenticating documents across national governments.
So what does “apostille” mean?
Apostille — a stamp or printed form consisting of ten standard numbered fields:
- Country
- This public document has been signed by
- Acting in the capacity of
- Bears the seal/stamp of
- Certified at
- Date
- Number
- Seal/stamp
- Signature
Is notarization of the document necessary for apostille?
Yes — the document will need to be notarized before being sent to the competent authority for the apostille, or to any of our VisaHQ locations.
Will a translation of the documents be needed (if being sent to a non-English speaking location)?
Yes in certain instances. Some countries require translations of the document from the local language to English, others might not. Please refer to the listed requirements for the country you will be using the documents in for more information.
What kinds of documents can be apostilled?
The most common types are contracts and licenses — business contracts, export licenses, birth/death certificates, and marriage licenses. Records such as birth certificates, university transcripts, deed pools, name changes, and passports are also commonly apostilled.
Can apostilled documents expire?
No, the apostille itself does not expire. However, many countries will only accept documents that have been apostilled within a certain timeframe, so check the destination country’s requirements before ordering.
Our office
AuthenticationHQ in Canada
Drop off documents in person, ship them to us, or reach the team through whichever channel is easiest.
Ottawa, ON
VisaHQ headquarters · Canada
Office address
An appointment is required to appear in this office and it should be coordinated with VisaHQ support staff. 116 Albert StreetSuite #300
Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K1P 5G3 Open in Google Maps ›
Office hours Monday — Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
Call center Monday — Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
Start your apostille or legalization today
Traveling, relocating, or doing business across borders is confusing enough.
If you need a document authenticated, apostilled, or legalized — our team will get it where it needs to go.