Texas Apostille Service for Documents Used Abroad
You have a Texas document and a foreign office that will not accept it until it carries an apostille. That is what we fix. A Texas apostille authenticates your birth, marriage, FBI, academic or corporate document so it is recognized in more than 120 Hague Convention countries. We file with Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit for you and return the finished document anywhere in the world. Licensed and insured, serving all 50 states since 2012.
Your Texas document, accepted overseas
A Texas apostille is the step that turns a local record into a document a foreign government will accept. Maybe you were born in Texas and Spain wants your birth certificate for residency. Maybe you married here and Italy needs the marriage certificate before it records your union. Maybe your company is registered in Texas and a partner abroad asks for apostilled incorporation papers. In every case the document is real, but an official in another country cannot verify a Texas seal on their own. The apostille solves that, and we handle the whole thing for you.
Apostille Depot processes Texas documents every week. You do not have to learn the state's forms, travel to TX's apostille office, or guess whether your document needs an extra certification first. You send us the document, we prepare it the way Texas expects, file for the apostille, and return it ready to use. This page covers what a Texas apostille is, who needs one, how the state office works, which documents we authenticate, what it costs, and how fast you can have it back.
What is a Texas apostille?
An apostille is a certificate that verifies the signature and seal on a public document so another country accepts it as genuine. It comes from the 1961 Hague Convention, a treaty signed by more than 120 countries. A Texas apostille is one issued by the state's competent authority, Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, confirming that the notary, registrar or official who signed your document is legitimate. Once your document carries the apostille, a member country treats it as valid with no embassy step.
Two points catch Texas residents out. First, the apostille comes from the state tied to the document, so a Texas record is apostilled in Texas even if you now live in another state or abroad. Second, Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit is the only office in Texas authorized to issue an apostille for a document going to a foreign country. No notary, county clerk or law office can issue one. They are often a step along the way, not the apostille itself.
If your destination country is not a Hague member, an apostille is not enough. Those documents need authentication by the U.S. Department of State followed by legalization at the country's embassy or consulate. We handle that longer route too, so whichever path your document needs, you have one provider for the whole job.
When your Texas document has to travel
People across Texas come to us at the moments life crosses a border. These are the situations we see most.
American expats
Moving abroad means proving who you are. We apostille the Texas birth certificate, marriage certificate and FBI report your new country asks for.
Students abroad
A university or licensing board overseas wants an apostilled diploma and transcript. We authenticate records from Texas schools for enrollment and teaching.
Couples marrying overseas
Marrying in Italy, Greece or Mexico usually requires an apostilled birth certificate and a single status affidavit. We prepare both and arrange translation.
Businesses and corporations
Companies registered in Texas need apostilled articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing and powers of attorney to operate abroad.
Immigration and visas
Golden Visa, residency and work permit files often require apostilled vital records and an FBI background check on a lawyer's timeline.
Adoption and family
International adoption and family matters frequently require a stack of apostilled Texas documents, prepared consistently and on time.
If a foreign government, university, employer or registry has asked for a Texas document, it almost certainly means an apostilled one. Tell us the document and the country and we will confirm exactly what you need.
How Texas issues apostilles
In Texas, apostilles and authentications come from the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, at 400 West 15th Street in Austin. This is the only authority in the state that can apostille a document for use in a foreign country, and the state fee is $15.00 per document.
The Austin office runs by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and walk-in on Mondays and Fridays, from 8:30am to 5:00pm, with a limit of ten documents per visit. A bulk drop-box at the office turns larger batches around in about 24 to 48 hours, and mailed requests vary with the season, so we confirm a realistic window before you order. Neither timeline includes the time it takes to gather a certified record or get a document notarized first, which is where most of the real delay hides.
This is the work we take off your plate. We know how the document has to be prepared before it reaches the Texas office, and how to avoid the rejections that send people back to the start.
What makes Texas documents different
Texas has a few rules that trip up people filing on their own. Vital records are the first. A Texas birth or death record comes from Texas Vital Statistics or the local registrar, and marriage and divorce records from the county clerk or district clerk. The certified copy needs the issuing office seal, and a private document such as a diploma must be notarized by a Texas notary first.
Notarized and private documents are the second. A diploma, a power of attorney, an affidavit or a company document usually has to be notarized by a Texas notary first, because the apostille authenticates the notary's commission. If the notarization is incomplete or the notary details do not match the state's records, the apostille is refused. We check every notarization before the document is filed.
Court documents are the third. A Texas divorce decree or probate document comes from a court, not a vital records office, and may need certification from the clerk of court before it can be apostilled. We confirm whether that extra step applies and arrange it. Getting any of these details wrong means a document returned unprocessed, which is exactly what our free review is built to prevent.
Texas documents we apostille
We apostille the full range of Texas records and prepare each one the way the state expects. Pick a document type for exact requirements and timelines.
Birth certificate
For dual citizenship, school enrollment and residency abroad. We confirm you have the certified copy the state requires.
FBI background check
A federal document handled through the U.S. Department of State, for work visas, residency and Golden Visa files.
Diplomas and transcripts
For studying, teaching and licensing abroad, from Texas universities and schools.
Corporate and legal
Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, powers of attorney and agreements.
Divorce decree
A court document that often needs clerk-of-court certification before the apostille. We handle that step.
Single status affidavit
Proof you are free to marry, prepared and notarized for couples marrying overseas.
Have a document not listed here? We authenticate almost every type of Texas public and notarized record. See all apostille services or ask us about your document.
Apostille or authentication: which does your country need?
The destination country decides which process applies, and choosing wrong is the most common and costly mistake. There are two paths, and we confirm the right one before you order.
Apostille, for Hague Convention countries. If your Texas document is going to one of the 120-plus member countries, a single apostille is all you need. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Germany, France and most of Europe and Latin America fall here. There is no embassy step.
Authentication and legalization, for non-Hague countries. Some countries never joined the Convention, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. For these, an apostille is rejected. The document needs authentication and embassy legalization, a longer chain we manage end to end.
Apostille corporate documents from Texas
Texas is home to companies that trade, hire and open entities abroad, and every one of those moves can require an apostille. When a Texas business expands overseas, foreign banks, registries and partners ask for authenticated proof that the company is real and in good standing. The documents we apostille most for Texas businesses are articles of organization or incorporation, certificates of good standing, bylaws and operating agreements, board resolutions, commercial invoices and powers of attorney that let someone act for the company abroad.
Corporate documents follow the same two-track rule as personal records. A state-issued certificate of good standing is a public document that can be apostilled directly. A private company document, such as a resolution or an agreement, usually has to be signed before a Texas notary first, because the apostille authenticates the notary. We confirm which of your documents are ready to file and which need notarizing, so a deal is not held up by a rejected filing.
If you are setting up a subsidiary, signing a contract, registering a trademark or opening a bank account in another country, tell us the destination and the documents involved. We will confirm whether each one needs an apostille or full embassy legalization, prepare the set consistently, and return everything together. See the full range on our apostille services page, or ask us about a corporate order.
How to get a Texas apostille
Step 1: Gather the right document
For a vital record, you need a certified copy with the registrar's signature and seal. For a diploma, affidavit or company document, it has to be notarized by a Texas notary first. Not sure what you have? Send a photo and we will tell you before you spend on anything.
Step 2: Notarization and certification
We confirm the notarization is complete and check whether your document needs an extra certification, such as clerk-of-court certification for a divorce decree, before it can be apostilled. We arrange what is missing.
Step 3: File for the apostille
We submit your prepared document to Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit and pay the $15 state fee. For a federal document like an FBI report, we route it through the U.S. Department of State instead. Every finished apostille is checked by our quality control team against your destination country's requirements.
Step 4: Delivery and tracking
We return your apostilled document by the courier you choose, anywhere in the world, or you can pick it up. You follow each stage in our online portal, and we notify you when the state returns your document and when it ships back to you.
Texas apostille cost and turnaround
Clear pricing with the $15 state fee included. Choose the handling that fits your deadline.
Economy
- State fee included
- First class return mail
- Online tracker
- Delivery in 1 to 3 weeks
- Free document review
Express
- State fee included
- Priority mail return
- Online tracker
- 1 to 5 business days
- Free document review
FBI Report
- U.S. Department of State
- 100% remote processing
- Government fee included
- Delivery in 2 to 6 weeks
- Priority mail return
FBI report apostilles through the U.S. Department of State are $199.95. Certified translation, court certification and non-Hague embassy legalization are quoted per case. Authenticating several Texas documents at once, such as a birth certificate and a marriage certificate for a visa file? We offer multi-document pricing. See the full breakdown on our how it works page.
Processing times are estimates set by Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit and shipping carriers. Gathering a certified record or notarization can add time. We confirm a realistic window before you order.
Apostille service across Texas
You do not need to be near Austin. From Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or El Paso, you apply online and mail your document, and we file it with the Authentications Unit for you. With one state office and a ten-document limit per visit, having a service handle the filing removes a real bottleneck for Texans. We serve Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington and the rest of the state. Most clients never need to visit anyone in person. You apply online, mail or drop off your document, and we file with Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit on your behalf.
Because we handle the filing, you skip the state office's hours, limits and lines, and you get one team managing notarization, certification, the apostille and worldwide return shipping together. If you are nearby and prefer to hand your document over in person, get in touch and we will arrange it.
A verified business, not an anonymous website
We know the state rules
We prepare Texas documents the way the state expects, so your apostille is right the first time.
Free review first
We confirm your document is eligible and which steps it needs before you pay anything.
Quality control
Every finished apostille is checked against your destination country's requirements before it ships.
One order, full service
Notarization, certification, apostille or legalization, translation and worldwide delivery, handled together.
We are a licensed, insured apostille provider with a real office, processing documents since 2012 for more than 2,200 clients. The state fee is included in our price, and we review your document for free before you commit. Meet the team or call (978) 424-4629.
Where Texas documents are headed
The destinations our Texas clients ask about most. Most are Hague members, so an apostille is correct, usually with a certified translation.
Mexico
Hague member. Apostille is the standard for the constant flow of civil records between Texas and Mexico, usually with a Spanish translation.
Spain
Hague member. Apostille plus a certified Spanish translation for residency and Golden Visa.
Germany
Hague member. Apostille and certified German translation for work, residency and registry matters.
India
Hague member. Apostille for education, marriage and background documents.
Colombia
Hague member. Apostille for vital records and dual citizenship.
Qatar
Not a Hague member. Documents need authentication and embassy legalization, common for Texas energy-sector professionals.
Heading somewhere not listed? We process Texas documents for destinations worldwide. Tell us the country and we will confirm whether you need an apostille or full legalization, plus any translation.
Mistakes that delay a Texas apostille
Almost every rejected document we see fails for one of these reasons. Our free review exists to catch each one before your document leaves your hands.
Using a plain copy
A printout, a keepsake or a photocopy cannot be apostilled. A vital record needs a certified copy with the registrar's signature and seal.
Incomplete notarization
For a diploma, affidavit or company document, the apostille authenticates the notary. A missing date, seal or wording gets it refused.
Filing in the wrong state
A document is apostilled by the state that issued it. A Texas record goes to Texas even if you now live elsewhere.
Skipping court certification
A divorce decree or probate document may need clerk-of-court certification first. Skip it and it comes back unprocessed.
Missing the translation
Many countries require a certified translation alongside the apostille. Without it the destination office has an incomplete file.
An outdated record
Some consulates want a certified copy and apostille issued within the last three to six months. An older one can be turned away.
Not sure your Texas document clears all six? Send us a photo and we will tell you what it needs before you pay anything. Start with a free review.
Texas apostille FAQs
Who issues apostilles in Texas?
Apostilles for Texas are issued by the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, at 400 West 15th Street in Austin. It is the only office that can apostille a Texas document for use in a foreign country.
How much does a Texas apostille cost?
The state charges $15.00 per document. Our service starts at $149.95 with that fee included, a free document review and an online tracker. Express is $199.95.
How long does it take?
A bulk drop-box at the office turns larger batches around in about 24 to 48 hours, and mailed requests vary with the season, so we confirm a realistic window before you order. Our Economy service delivers in 1 to 3 weeks and Express in 1 to 5 business days.
Do I have to travel to file?
No. Most clients work with us entirely by mail and email. We file with the state authority for you and return the finished document anywhere in the world.
Does my document need to be notarized first?
Vital records do not, but private documents like diplomas, affidavits and company papers usually need a Texas notary first, because the apostille authenticates the notary. We check the notarization before filing.
My document was issued in another state. Can you help?
Yes. A document is apostilled by the state that issued it, so we route it to the correct state's authority. We handle every state.
Can you apostille a Texas divorce decree?
Yes. A divorce decree is a court document and may need clerk-of-court certification before it can be apostilled. We confirm whether that step applies and arrange it.
What if my country is not in the Hague Convention?
We handle U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization for non-Hague countries such as the UAE and Qatar. Tell us the destination and we confirm the route and quote it.
Can you translate my document too?
Yes. We provide certified and notarized translation in more than 100 languages and pair it with your Texas apostille order.
Can I apply from outside the United States?
Yes. Many clients apply from abroad. Choose international return shipping in the form, and reach out if you need help getting the document to our office.
Does a Texas apostille expire?
The apostille does not expire, but some foreign offices want a recently issued certified copy and apostille, often within three to six months. Check the receiving office's rule before ordering.
Do I need an appointment for a Texas apostille?
The Austin office takes appointments Tuesday through Thursday and walk-ins on Monday and Friday, with a ten-document limit per visit. We handle the filing for you, so you skip the scheduling and the limit.
Get your Texas document recognized abroad
Send us your document for a free review, or start your order now. We confirm the right certified copy or notarization, file with Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, authenticate it for your destination, and return it ready to use.
Hanson Webb
Editor, Apostille Depot
Hanson edits Apostille Depot, a licensed, insured document authentication service operating since 2012. With more than ten years in apostille, notarization and certified translation, he turns complex government requirements into clear guides, helping over 2,200 clients send documents to more than 120 countries across all 50 states.
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