Apostille & Authentication Services in Houston

We take care of your apostille and authentication from start to finish — fast, accurate, and absolutely hassle-free

Mail or Personal Pickup

Mail your documents or request personal pickup in Houston and surrounding areas

We Verify & Prepare

We check your documents and get them ready for certification

Processing & Certification

We complete the apostille or authentication with the proper state or federal office

Return by Mail or Personal Delivery

Your completed documents are returned securely, either by tracked mail or personal delivery in Houston and surrounding areas

How We Make This Easy

Fast, Accurate Processing

We handle every document with precision and deliver results quickly

Document Safety Guaranteed

Strict chain-of-custody and secure handling from start to finish

Local Houston Support

Real help from a Houston-based specialist — not a call center

Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees, no surprises. Everything is clear before you start

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official certification issued by the Texas Secretary of State that verifies the authenticity of a public document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms that the signature, seal, and authority on the document are genuine and internationally recognized.

Apostilles are used for documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney, notarized letters, and corporate records.
Apostilles are recognized only by countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention.

If the destination country is not a Hague member, the document will instead require Authentication + Embassy Legalization, which we also provide.

👉 View full list of Hague Convention countries →

What Is Authentication

Authentication is required when a document is being used in a country that is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Instead of an apostille, these countries require a multi-step process to verify the document’s legitimacy.

In most cases, your document must be:

  1. Certified by the Texas Secretary of State, and then

  2. Reviewed by the U.S. Department of State or legalized by the foreign embassy or consulate of the destination country.

This process is commonly required for countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Vietnam, and many other non-Hague nations.

👉 View full list of non-Hague countries →

Documents We Handle

We handle apostille and authentication services for personal, educational, and business documents from Texas and across the U.S

Personal Documents

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, name change documents, identity records, and other personal civil documents

Educational Documents

Diplomas, transcripts, enrollment letters, academic records, degree certificates, and other school or university documents

Business & Legal Documents

Corporate records, powers of attorney, affidavits, contracts, certificates of incorporation, and other business or legal paperwork

Choose Your Apostille Processing Speed

Select the service timeline that matches your deadline and document requirements

Standard Apostille
10–15 business days
$149 first • $99 each additional
Best for non-urgent apostille requests.
Start Standard
Rush Apostille
1–3 business days
$349 first • $199 additional
Fastest apostille turnaround available.
Request Rush
Authentication – Standard
15–25 business days
$199 first • $129 additional
Required for non-Hague countries: UAE, China, Qatar, Vietnam, and others.
Start Authentication
Authentication – Expedited / Rush
5–12 business days
$349 first • $199 additional
Fastest option for embassy legalization timelines.
Check Rush Availability

Processing times may vary based on government workload, holidays, and embassy schedules.

Ready to Get Started?

Fast, accurate apostille & authentication services from Houston
Submit your documents securely in minutes

houston apostille and authentication process – gulf apostille

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an apostille?

An apostille is an international certification that verifies a document’s authenticity for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms the signature, seal, and authority of the official who issued or notarized your document.

Authentication is required for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention. It typically involves two steps:

  1. Certification by a state or the U.S. Department of State

  2. Legalization by the destination country’s embassy or consulate.
    This process is also called “legalization” or “attestation.”

Timelines depend on the service type (Standard, Expedited, or Rush) and whether embassy legalization is required. Some apostilles are completed in 24–72 hours, while consulate legalizations may take several business days or longer

No. You may mail your documents from anywhere in the United States or request local pickup/drop-off in the Houston area. We also accept FedEx, UPS, and courier deliveries

We process birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, diplomas, transcripts, background checks, powers of attorney, corporate documents, notarized letters, and more. Personal and business documents are accepted

Click Get Started, complete the short request form, and upload or describe your documents. We will review them, confirm the correct service, and send clear instructions with pricing

Yes. For non-Hague countries, we manage full legalization: state certification, U.S. Department of State authentication when required, and final embassy or consulate processing

Vital records (birth, marriage, death) and court orders typically require certified originals. Other documents may use notarized copies. If you are unsure, we evaluate your documents and tell you exactly what version is required

We process documents from all 50 states. Each state has its own apostille rules. We route your document through the correct Secretary of State or federal agency based on where it was issued

Yes. Rush or same-day service may be available for certain Texas-issued documents. Availability depends on document type and destination country. Contact us to confirm timing

Yes. Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman) require multi-step authentication and embassy legalization. We manage all steps and ensure your documents meet their exact standards

Yes. Notarized documents such as powers of attorney, affidavits, and consent letters can be apostilled as long as the notarization meets state law. We review every notarized document before submission

Yes. Notarized documents such as powers of attorney, affidavits, and consent letters can be apostilled as long as the notarization meets state law. We review every notarized document before submission

You may need a new certified copy if your document is old, damaged, or missing state-required security features. We will guide you on how to order a new copy if needed

Yes. FBI background checks require federal authentication through the correct U.S. Department of State channel. We guide you on obtaining the FBI report and handle all legalization steps

Yes. Iraq and Lebanon are non-Hague countries, so documents require state certification, U.S. Department of State authentication, and embassy or consulate legalization. We manage the entire process for you

Yes. Mexico is a Hague Convention country, so most U.S. documents require only an apostille—not consulate legalization. Some Mexican institutions may request certified translations or specific formats, and we can guide you through all requirements

Yes. We provide full customer support in Arabic and English. Many clients from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries prefer assistance in Arabic, especially when handling sensitive documents.
We can explain the required steps, verify your documents, and guide you through apostille or embassy legalization in the language you are most comfortable with

Yes. We offer document retrieval services for clients who need certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court records, and business filings.
Availability depends on each county’s rules. Some counties allow authorized third-party pickup (with a signed authorization form and a copy of your ID), while others require you to order records directly by mail or online.
We will guide you through the correct process and, when allowed, retrieve the documents on your behalf and prepare them for apostille or authentication

Yes. We offer document retrieval for business records and court documents such as divorce decrees and certified orders.
For vital records (birth, marriage, death), some counties restrict third-party pickup. We will guide you through the correct process and help confirm whether your county allows authorized pickup or if it must be ordered directly from the issuing agency

No. Apostilles cannot be issued on regular photocopies or scans. Your document must be either:

  1. A certified original (issued by the state or county), or

  2. A notarized true copy, if allowed for that document.
    Some documents, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, cannot be notarized and must be certified originals. If you’re unsure which version you need, we can verify it before you send anything

Certain documents must be certified originals issued by the correct government office before they can be apostilled or authenticated. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Birth Certificates: Must be issued by the Vital Records Office or County Clerk in the county where the birth occurred. Hospital-issued certificates are not accepted for apostille.

  • Marriage Certificates: Must be obtained from the County Clerk in the county where the marriage was recorded.

  • Divorce Decrees: Must be requested from the court that issued the final divorce order—not the county clerk.

  • Death Certificates: Must be certified copies from the County Clerk or Vital Records Office.

Because requirements vary by county, we guide you on:

  1. Which office you need to contact,

  2. What type of certified copy is required, and

  3. Whether third-party pickup is allowed or if you must order the document directly.

This ensures the document you provide is the correct version for apostille, authentication, or embassy legalization

Areas We Serve

We proudly serve Greater Houston, North Houston, Spring, The Woodlands–Conroe area,
Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, and the Huntsville region.

Counties Served: Harris County • Montgomery County • Walker County •
Fort Bend County • Brazoria County • Galveston County

Don’t see your service area?

Fast, accurate apostille & authentication services from Houston
Submit your documents securely in minutes

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