Contracting State
A State that has acceded to the Apostille Convention, whether or not the Convention has entered into force for that State. The Contracting State in which the Convention entered into force is also called the Contracting Party. An updated list of all contracting states is available on our website.
Affixing an apostille replaces the often cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive process of document legalization. Legalization is a term that is still used today and can mean „to apostilize“ or „to further confirm.“ It is often used in cases that can also be described as „lost in translation“.
Recipient
A person to whom an apostilled state document is provided in the country of destination.
The applicant
A person requesting an apostille
Apostille
Stamp according to the Apostille Convention. A document on which an apostille is affixed is called „apostilled“.
Submission of a public document
Act of submitting a public document in the proposed country of destination. The production of a public document may be required or provided (i) under the law of the country of destination (for example, in a court proceeding or an application for permanent residence), or (ii) by some other agreement (for example, based on a commercial contract or an application by a private institution).
Country of origin
The state that issues a public document and whose competent authority has been requested to issue an apostille. It can also be called the execution state.
Target country
The state, other than the country of origin, where the (apostilled) public document is presented. It is also commonly referred to as the host state.
Certification / attestation
Law on further legalization processes with countries that are not parties to the Apostille Convention.
An updated list of all contracting states is available on our sister site.
Authentication / verification
A general term that usually refers to the process of verifying the provenance of a public document/document. Authentication and legalization are often used interchangeably. However, authentication can also refer to the apostilization process.
Affixing an apostille
The act of affixing an apostille and attaching it to the relevant state document/document for the purpose of verifying its origin.
Public document/document
A broad concept that is central to the Apostille Convention. A public document is basically a document drawn up by a government or a person exercising official authority. The determination of what constitutes a public document is solely a matter for the law of the country of origin.
Register an apostille
The register in which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office records details of each apostille issued.
Legalization
The process of verifying foreign official documents/documents. Apostille of documents has the same effect as legalization, but is the result of a simplified process introduced by the Hague Convention.