An apostille is a declaration verified or attested to by a notary public. It certifies that the notary who verified a document is one registered in a state. This is the way to ensure that a document receives international recognition. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘fast-track’ version of legalization.
Legalization is an internationally recognized procedure for certifying the authenticity of official signatures and/or official seal applied to a public document. It operates by means of an unbroken chain of verifying signatures commencing with that of the first signatory to the document and ending with the signature of the diplomatic or consular representative of the state in which the document is to produced and acted upon.
