Apostille / Gold Seal Service

Recognizing US state documents abroad

An Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country (pursuant to the 1961 Hague Convention).

An apostillized copy of the Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization is often required to open a bank account in another country for a US-incorporated business. Also, some countries require a Certified Copy of the Articles of Incorporation/Organization with an appropriate gold seal instead of an apostillized copy.

Features & benefits

With certification by Apostille or gold seal, your Articles of Incorporation (for corporations) or Articles of Organization (for limited liability companies) are entitled to recognition in the country of intended use. Additional certification or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country may be required dependent on the country of use.

Apostille Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? See frequently asked questions on Apostilles:

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country pursuant to the 1961 Hague Convention. With certification by Apostille or gold seal, your Articles of Incorporation (for corporations) or Articles of Organization (for limited liability companies) are entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no additional certification or legalization by the embassy or consulate of the foreign country where the document is to be used is required.

Please note, certain countries require a Certified Copy of the Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization with an appropriate gold seal instead of an apostillized copy.

Why would I need an Apostille?

An apostillized copy of the Articles of Incorporation (for corporations) or Articles of Organization (for limited liability companies) is often required to open a bank account in another country for business that is incorporated in the United States.

Key Benefits

For business owners not located in the United States but who are incorporating in the United States, the local governments typically require proof of the US incorporation. Certification by Apostille or gold seal is universally recognized and accepted.

Keep in Mind

While an apostillized copy of a company’s incorporation documents may be one requirement international banks have in order to open a bank account for a business incorporated in the United States, it is probably not the only requirement. Be sure to check with banks under consideration for a list of required materials.

Ordering with domestic incorporation service packages
An Apostille or Certified Copy with gold seal cannot be added to our Basic, Standard or Complete Incorporation Services via our online order form. Contact our Incorporation Specialists to order by phone or to add an Apostille to an existing order.

Ordering after incorporation is complete
If an Apostille or Certified Copy with gold seal is ordered after the incorporation of your business is complete, you may also need to pay an additional fee, which varies by state, to obtain the state-issued document you wish to have apostillized.