How to Apostille a Driver's License?

Before you can apostille your Driver's License, you'll need to obtain a notarized copy of it.

1. What Does Notarization Mean?

In the United States, notarization is the process where a notary public, authorized by the state government, confirms the validity of signatures on a document. Notaries act as neutral third parties to verify the identity of the person signing the document, ensure they are signing willingly, and confirm that they understand the document’s contents. This helps protect against fraud and ensures that the document is authentic.

To notarize your Driver's License, you'll need to present the original document and a "True Copy Affidavit" (view a sample here) to a local notary public. Some notaries may require you to bring a copy of the document, while others will create a copy for you. You’ll then sign the affidavit in front of the notary.

The notary will verify your identity, witness your signature, fill in the appropriate notarial wording, and affix their seal and signature to the document.

2. What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates documents for use in countries that are part of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. After the apostille is obtained, no further authentication steps are required.

For countries that are not part of the Hague Convention, you’ll need to get an Authentication Certificate for your documents instead. This may involve multiple steps, including getting the certificate from foreign embassies or consulates.

3. Apostille vs. Authentication: Which One Do You Need?

The country where your document will be used determines whether you need an Apostille or Authentication.

• If you are sending your document to a country that accepts the Apostille (like Germany, France, or Spain), you will need to get an Apostille from your state’s Secretary of State office.

• If the destination country is not part of the Hague Convention, you'll need to follow the Authentication Process:

  • Obtain an Authentication from your Secretary of State.

  • If needed, get additional Authentication from the U.S. Department of State.

  • Finally, get Legalization from the country’s embassy.

Once you know which process you need to follow, simply send us the notarized copy of your Driver’s License, and we’ll handle the rest. We’ll contact the appropriate departments to ensure your document is properly apostilled or authenticated.

Navigating the apostille and authentication process can be overwhelming. If you’d prefer to skip the hassle, consider letting a professional service handle it for you. When we receive your order and notarized document, we’ll process everything as quickly as possible.

Besides Driver's Licenses, we also provide apostille, authentication, and embassy legalization services for a wide range of personal and corporate documents from all 50 states and DC.