Apostille Process Explained: A State-by-State DAFT Guide

When we first heard we needed "apostilles" for our DAFT application, we had no idea what that meant.

Is it a type of notarization? A special stamp? Where do you get one?

Turns out, apostilles are essential for international documents—and getting them wrong delays your entire application.

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What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a special certification that verifies your US documents are legitimate for use in foreign countries. Think of it as international notarization.

It's NOT regular notarization, a translation, or a copy of your document.

Without apostilles, the Netherlands won't accept your documents and your application will be denied.

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Which Documents Need Apostilles

Required for DAFT:

• FBI Background Check (apostilled by US Department of State)
• Birth Certificate (apostilled by your birth state's Secretary of State)
• Marriage Certificate, if applicable (apostilled by state where married)

Don't need apostilles:

• Passport
• Bank statements
• Business plan
• Health insurance proof
• Passport photos

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Federal vs State Apostilles

FBI Background Check = Federal

• Apostilled by US Department of State in Washington, DC
• Cost: $20
• Timeline: 2-4 weeks

Birth/Marriage Certificates = State

• Apostilled by your state's Secretary of State
• Cost: $10-25 (varies by state)
• Timeline: 1-4 weeks (varies by state)

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General Process

1. Get certified copy of your document (not a photocopy)
2. Determine the right authority (federal or state)
3. Submit for apostille with payment and return envelope
4. Wait for processing (1-4 weeks)
5. Receive document with apostille certificate attached

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State-by-State Quick Reference

State	Processing Time	Cost
California	1-2 weeks	$20
Texas	2-3 weeks	$15
Florida	1-2 weeks	$10
New York	2-4 weeks	$10
Illinois	1-2 weeks	$2
Pennsylvania	2-3 weeks	$5
Ohio	1-2 weeks	$5
Washington	1-2 weeks	$20
Massachusetts	2-3 weeks	$6
North Carolina	1-2 weeks	$10

For detailed state-specific instructions, see our individual state guides:

• California
• Texas
• Florida
• New York
• Illinois
• Pennsylvania
• Ohio
• Washington
• Massachusetts
• North Carolina

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Common Mistakes

Using regular notary instead of apostille: Not the same thing. You need apostille specifically.

Apostilling a photocopy: Must be original or certified copy.

Wrong state: Birth certificate must be apostilled by birth state, not current residence state.

Expired documents: FBI check must be less than 6 months old when apostilled.

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Timeline Planning

FBI Background Check + Apostille: 10-16 weeks total Birth Certificate + Apostille: 3-8 weeks total

Start early—begin this process 4-6 months before you want to move.

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Costs Summary

Document	Document Cost	Apostille Cost	Total
FBI check	$18-118	$20	$38-138
Birth certificate	$25-50	$10-25	$35-75
Marriage certificate	$25-50	$10-25	$35-75

Our actual cost for all apostilles: $163

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FAQ

What's the difference between notarization and apostille? Notarization verifies a signature within the US. Apostille verifies the document for international use.

Can I get an apostille from any state? No. Documents must be apostilled by the issuing state or authority.

How long is an apostille valid? Apostilles don't expire, but the underlying document might. FBI checks must be less than 6 months old.

Can I do this myself? Yes. The process is straightforward—you don't need a service. We did ours ourselves.

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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.