Documents are apostilled in the United States so they are legally recognized in over 120 countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention without the need for additional procedures.

The main reasons are:

• International Validity: The apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and the official capacity of the person who issued the document (such as a notary, state registrar, or federal agent). Without it, foreign authorities will not accept U.S. public documents.

• Process Simplification: It eliminates the need for "consular legalization," an outdated, costly, and time-consuming process that required having the document validated at multiple offices (state, federal government, and finally the destination country's embassy). With an apostille, a single certificate is sufficient.

• Mandatory Requirement: It is essential for carrying out important procedures abroad, such as applying for work or residence visas, enrolling in universities, getting married, buying property, opening bank accounts, or participating in international adoption processes.

It is important to note that the apostille does not validate the content of the document, but only the authenticity of the signature and seal that authenticated it. If the destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention (such as China, the United Arab Emirates, or Canada for certain documents), a different process called “authentication and legalization” is required.