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&

Apostille Certification
Checklist
There are strict standards for the Apostille
and Certification process. The Arkansas
Secretary of State will not authenticate
documents that do not comply. Please read
all instructions in this brochure carefully,
then follow the checklist below to make
All About
Apostilles
Certifications
in the
State of Arkansas
& What are Apostilles and Certifications?
On October 15, 1981,
the United States
became part of the
1961 Hague Convention
which abolished the
requirements for the
legalization of foreign
To facilitate the acceptance of these
documents they must be authenticated.
You will need an Apostille if all of the
following apply:

The country where the document


was issued is party to the 1961 Hague
sure you meet all requirements. public documents Convention;
and simplified the The country in which the
1. Documents must be properly notarized authentication process of document is to be used is
by an Arkansas Notary Public or documents to be used in party to the 1961 Hague
must bear the seal and signature of an nations that are members of Convention;
Arkansas elected official. the 1961 Hague Convention.
The law of the country
2. If notarized, the documents must The Arkansas Secretary
where the document was
contain an acknowledgement statement of States Office has been
issued considers it to be a public
for every signature on each document. designated as the Competent
document; and
Authority for the State of
3. Ensure all documents in a foreign Arkansas, and therefore is the only Arkansas official The country in which the document is to be
language have been translated to that may issue Apostilles and Certifications on used requires an Apostille in order to recognize
English and contain a proper affidavit public documents to be used abroad. it as a foreign public document.
and notarial acknowledgement.
4. Documents should be originals, Many transactions in foreign countries A list of countries who have joined the Hague
certified copies or true and perfect involve documents prepared in the United Convention is located at www.hcch.net. An
copies, authenticated by the notary. States or issued by state governmental Apostille is not valid for use inside the United States.
A notary may not certify a photocopy agencies. Whether the transaction involves
setting up an import business or adopting a For those countries who have not joined the Hague
of a document that is a vital record or
child, selling products overseas or studying Convention, a Certification is used in place of an
a public record.
A R K A N S A S abroad, foreign governments must rely on Apostille. You should always contact the Embassy
5. Submit documents to be authenticated or the Consulate of the country where you intend to
to the Arkansas Secretary of States SECRETARY OF STATE information provided on documents issued
use the document in order to verify what is required
Mark Martin
and recorded by states, cities and counties
office along with the proper fees: that are unfamiliar to them. in that country.
a. Apostilles: $10 per document
b. Certifications: $5 per document
Note: It is the responsibility of the requesting party
to determine which type of authenticating document
is required by the country where the
Arkansas Secretary of State document will be sent.
Business & Commercial Services (888) 233-0325
Arkansas Secretary of State (501) 682-3409
Business & Commercial Elections Elections Division (800) 482-1127
Services Division (501) 682-5070
1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 250 State Capitol, Suite 026
Little Rock, AR 72201 Arkansas Department of Health
www.sos.arkansas.gov Vital Records & Birth Certificates (501) 661-2134
&
Apostille Certification
Checklist
There are strict standards for the Apostille
and Certification process. The Arkansas
Secretary of State will not authenticate
documents that do not comply. Please read
all instructions in this brochure carefully,
then follow the checklist below to make
All About
Apostilles
Certifications
in the
State of Arkansas
& What are Apostilles and Certifications?
On October 15, 1981,
the United States
became part of the
1961 Hague Convention
which abolished the
requirements for the
legalization of foreign
To facilitate the acceptance of these
documents they must be authenticated.
You will need an Apostille if all of the
following apply:

The country where the document


was issued is party to the 1961 Hague
sure you meet all requirements. public documents Convention;
and simplified the The country in which the
1. Documents must be properly notarized authentication process of document is to be used is
by an Arkansas Notary Public or documents to be used in party to the 1961 Hague
must bear the seal and signature of an nations that are members of Convention;
Arkansas elected official. the 1961 Hague Convention.
The law of the country
2. If notarized, the documents must The Arkansas Secretary
where the document was
contain an acknowledgement statement of States Office has been
issued considers it to be a public
for every signature on each document. designated as the Competent
document; and
Authority for the State of
3. Ensure all documents in a foreign Arkansas, and therefore is the only Arkansas official The country in which the document is to be
language have been translated to that may issue Apostilles and Certifications on used requires an Apostille in order to recognize
English and contain a proper affidavit public documents to be used abroad. it as a foreign public document.
and notarial acknowledgement.
4. Documents should be originals, Many transactions in foreign countries A list of countries who have joined the Hague
certified copies or true and perfect involve documents prepared in the United Convention is located at www.hcch.net. An
copies, authenticated by the notary. States or issued by state governmental Apostille is not valid for use inside the United States.
A notary may not certify a photocopy agencies. Whether the transaction involves
setting up an import business or adopting a For those countries who have not joined the Hague
of a document that is a vital record or
child, selling products overseas or studying Convention, a Certification is used in place of an
a public record.
A R K A N S A S abroad, foreign governments must rely on Apostille. You should always contact the Embassy
5. Submit documents to be authenticated or the Consulate of the country where you intend to
to the Arkansas Secretary of States SECRETARY OF STATE information provided on documents issued
use the document in order to verify what is required
Mark Martin
and recorded by states, cities and counties
office along with the proper fees: that are unfamiliar to them. in that country.
a. Apostilles: $10 per document
b. Certifications: $5 per document
Note: It is the responsibility of the requesting party
to determine which type of authenticating document
is required by the country where the
Arkansas Secretary of State document will be sent.
Business & Commercial Services (888) 233-0325
Arkansas Secretary of State (501) 682-3409
Business & Commercial Elections Elections Division (800) 482-1127
Services Division (501) 682-5070
1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 250 State Capitol, Suite 026
Little Rock, AR 72201 Arkansas Department of Health
www.sos.arkansas.gov Vital Records & Birth Certificates (501) 661-2134
Duties of the I am sending multiple documents. Some

Which documents will


need Authentication?
Arkansas Notary Public
It is essential that the Arkansas Notary Public performs
State of Arkansas
County of ___________ A are notarized and others are signed by
an elected official. Should I send them
separately to the proper divisions?
On this the ______ day of ______, 20____, before me,
the notarial duties accurately so the Apostille and No. Either office may assist with your request.
Apostilles and Certifications can be issued for certificates ____________ (name of notary), the undersigned notary,
Certification request can be processed in a timely manner. personally appeared ____________ (name(s) of signer(s)),
of birth, marriage and death; court proceedings; patents;
known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person Should I include a self-addressed,
notarial acts and acknowledgements of signatures; All documents must be properly notarized by an Arkansas whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and
diplomas and transcripts. Notary Public and must contain an acknowledgement acknowledged that he/she/they executed the same for the
stamped envelope?
statement with each signature on the document to be purpose therein contained. A self-addressed envelope is not necessary
Apostilled or Certified (as in Example A). unless you need the documents to be returned
What cannot be Apostilled In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal. by express mail (DHL, UPS or FedEx). For
or Certified? All documents submitted in a foreign language must be
_________________________________ this service, you must provide a pre-paid,
accompanied by an English translation. A notary public pre-addressed air bill and envelope.
{Seal} (Notary Public Signature)
Documents in a foreign language that have must witness the signature of the translator by affixing to
not been translated into English (see the translators affidavit a completed My commission expires ______________________________
acknowledgement in addition to their May I submit a notarized photocopy of my
translation requirements below)

B
notary signature and seal exactly as it is birth certificate for authentication?
I, ______________ (name of translator), affirm that
Documents concerning immigration, recorded with the Secretary of States office the above is a true and perfect translation of the No. You will need to provide the original
citizenship or sovereignty (see Example B). original document (insert type: diploma, transcript, etc.). certificate or a certified copy from the Arkansas Department of
____________________________ Healths Vital Records office. A notary public may not certify a
Documents that do not contain an (Translator Signature) photocopy of a document that is a vital record or a public record.
accurate and complete notarization by an Frequently Asked State of Arkansas
County of ___________________
Arkansas Notary Public or bear the signature Questions If my document is in a foreign language, but the notarization
and seal of an Arkansas elected official On this the ______ day of ______, 20____, before me, is in English, am I still required to have it translated?
Where can I obtain my Apostille or ____________ (name of notary), the undersigned notary,
Documents issued by the U.S. Department Certification? personally appeared ____________ (name(s) of signer(s)), Yes. An English translation of the entire
of State known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person document must accompany the document
Submit your documents by mail or in
whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and submitted in the foreign language.
person to the Arkansas Secretary of States acknowledged that he/she/they executed the same for the
office. The specific division depends on the
Translated Foreign Documents type of document:
purpose therein contained.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and official seal.I need to send my document
overseas in two weeks. Is
Before an Apostille or Certification will be issued Elections Division, State Capitol, _________________________________ there a fee to expedite
for a document submitted in a foreign language, the Room 026, Little Rock for documents {Seal} (Notary Public Signature)
bearing the seal of an elected official, the authentication
document must first be translated into English.
such as marriage licenses, divorce My commission expires ______________________________ process?
Pursuant to A.R.C.P. 1009(a) a translation of decrees or judgments. There is no additional
foreign-language documents and recordings, fee to expedite the
including transcriptions, that is otherwise Business and Commercial Services Division, 1401 West authentication process. We strive
admissible under the Arkansas Rules of Evidence Capitol Avenue, Suite250, Little Rock (one block east of the Capitol) to process all authentication
shall be admissible upon the affidavit of a documents issued by a state agency or notarized by an Arkansas Notary requests within 24-48 hours
qualified translatorcertifying that the Public, such as diplomas and school transcripts; certificates of birth, of their receipt.
translation is fair, accurate, and complete. marriage and death issued by the state Department of Healths Vital
Records office.
How can I verify that a notary
A notary public must witness the signature of the public is registered with the
translator by affixing to the translators affidavit a May I pay with a credit card? Arkansas Secretary of State?
completed acknowledgement in addition to their notary The Business & Commercial Services Division is equipped You may perform a preliminary
signature and seal exactly as it is recorded with the to accept credit card payments. The Elections Division,
notary public search on our
Arkansas Secretary of State. however, is not. Cash, checks or money orders made
website:
payable to the Arkansas Secretary of State may be used
to pay for an Apostille or Certification. www.sos.arkansas.gov/bcs
&
Apostille Certification
Checklist
There are strict standards for the Apostille
and Certification process. The Arkansas
Secretary of State will not authenticate
documents that do not comply. Please read
all instructions in this brochure carefully,
then follow the checklist below to make
All About
Apostilles
Certifications
in the
State of Arkansas
& What are Apostilles and Certifications?
On October 15, 1981,
the United States
became part of the
1961 Hague Convention
which abolished the
requirements for the
legalization of foreign
To facilitate the acceptance of these
documents they must be authenticated.
You will need an Apostille if all of the
following apply:

The country where the document


was issued is party to the 1961 Hague
sure you meet all requirements. public documents Convention;
and simplified the The country in which the
1. Documents must be properly notarized authentication process of document is to be used is
by an Arkansas Notary Public or documents to be used in party to the 1961 Hague
must bear the seal and signature of an nations that are members of Convention;
Arkansas elected official. the 1961 Hague Convention.
The law of the country
2. If notarized, the documents must The Arkansas Secretary
where the document was
contain an acknowledgement statement of States Office has been
issued considers it to be a public
for every signature on each document. designated as the Competent
document; and
Authority for the State of
3. Ensure all documents in a foreign Arkansas, and therefore is the only Arkansas official The country in which the document is to be
language have been translated to that may issue Apostilles and Certifications on used requires an Apostille in order to recognize
English and contain a proper affidavit public documents to be used abroad. it as a foreign public document.
and notarial acknowledgement.
4. Documents should be originals, Many transactions in foreign countries A list of countries who have joined the Hague
certified copies or true and perfect involve documents prepared in the United Convention is located at www.hcch.net. An
copies, authenticated by the notary. States or issued by state governmental Apostille is not valid for use inside the United States.
A notary may not certify a photocopy agencies. Whether the transaction involves
setting up an import business or adopting a For those countries who have not joined the Hague
of a document that is a vital record or
child, selling products overseas or studying Convention, a Certification is used in place of an
a public record.
A R K A N S A S abroad, foreign governments must rely on Apostille. You should always contact the Embassy
5. Submit documents to be authenticated or the Consulate of the country where you intend to
to the Arkansas Secretary of States SECRETARY OF STATE information provided on documents issued
use the document in order to verify what is required
Mark Martin
and recorded by states, cities and counties
office along with the proper fees: that are unfamiliar to them. in that country.
a. Apostilles: $10 per document
b. Certifications: $5 per document
Note: It is the responsibility of the requesting party
to determine which type of authenticating document
is required by the country where the
Arkansas Secretary of State document will be sent.
Business & Commercial Services (888) 233-0325
Arkansas Secretary of State (501) 682-3409
Business & Commercial Elections Elections Division (800) 482-1127
Services Division (501) 682-5070
1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 250 State Capitol, Suite 026
Little Rock, AR 72201 Arkansas Department of Health
www.sos.arkansas.gov Vital Records & Birth Certificates (501) 661-2134

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