In the United States, practically any public or private document can be apostilled, but the issuing authority determines whether the process is state or federal.

1. State Documents (Processed by the Secretary of State)

This category includes most personal, academic, and corporate documents.

• Vital Records: Original birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued by the state or county. Note: Simple copies are not accepted; they must be certified copies with a wet or raised seal.

• Academic Documents: University diplomas, transcripts, and school attendance certificates. Requirement: Generally, they must be notarized or certified by the institution's registrar before the apostille.

• Notarized Documents: Any private document signed before a notary, such as Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, parental consent letters for minor travel, and certified copies of passports or driver's licenses.

• Corporate Documents: Articles of Incorporation, meeting minutes, certificates of good standing, and powers of attorney for company representatives.

• State Judicial Documents: Divorce decrees, custody orders, state criminal records, and bankruptcy documents issued by state courts.

2. Federal Documents (Processed by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C.)

Only documents issued directly by U.S. federal government agencies qualify for this level.

• Criminal Background Checks: FBI Identity History Summary reports.

• Immigration Documents: Naturalization certificates and certificates of citizenship issued by USCIS.

• Tax Documents: Tax transcripts and Employer Identification Number (EIN) confirmation letters issued by the IRS.

• Federal Judicial Documents: Judgments, orders, and records from federal district or appellate courts.

• Export and Health Certificates: Documents issued by the USDA (agriculture) and FDA (food and drugs), such as Certificates of Free Sale.

• Other Federal Records: Social Security Administration reports (benefit verification letters), patents and trademarks (USPTO), and military records (DD-214).

Special Case: Passports

A U.S. passport original cannot be apostilled directly. To use it abroad with extended legal validity, you must obtain a notarized copy of the data page (photo and information). This copy, once notarized as a "true copy of the original," becomes a state-level document eligible for apostille by the relevant Secretary of State.