Personal and Civil Documents for International Use

Core guide · Updated August 2026

Personal documents organized for international procedures — Illustrative image; does not represent an official document.

Powers of attorney, civil records, single-status certificates, minor travel permits and vessel documents all have something in common: they are almost always personal documents that someone needs to use outside the United States, and they almost always require an apostille or consular legalization before they will be accepted. This page brings together our guides for each type of personal document, so you can quickly find the one that matches your situation.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney lets someone else act on your behalf for a matter abroad, such as selling a property or representing you before a bank. It almost always needs to be signed before a notary and then apostilled before it is sent to the country where it will be used.

Marital Status and Getting Married Abroad

If you are getting married outside the United States, many countries require an apostilled single-status certificate (or affidavit of marital status) as part of the marriage file, along with other requirements specific to the receiving country.

Civil Records

Birth, marriage or death certificates issued by a U.S. state usually need an apostille from the relevant Secretary of State before they will be accepted by a foreign authority.

Travel Permits and Documents for Minors

When a minor travels abroad without one of their parents or legal guardians, many countries require a travel permit or notarized authorization, sometimes apostilled as well.

Vessels and Sale Documents

Buying, selling, registering or deleting a boat's flag with another country's registry also usually requires authenticated documents from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) or another state authority.

General Topics That Apply to Any Personal Document

Before starting the process for any of the documents above, these general guides help you understand the apostille process itself:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about your specific document? Write to us and we will review it with you.

Do all personal documents need an apostille?+

No. Only public documents, issued or certified by an authority, can generally be apostilled. A private document, such as an unnotarized personal letter, must first go through a notary before it can be apostilled.

Are an apostille and consular legalization the same thing?+

No. An apostille applies when the destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention. If the country is not a member, the document needs consular legalization instead of an apostille.

Which authority apostilles a personal document in the United States?+

It depends on who issued the document. Notarized documents and many state-issued documents are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the relevant state; federal documents, such as FBI background checks, are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.

Can I apostille a copy of my document instead of the original?+

Generally not directly. Most authorities apostille the original document or a certified copy issued by the relevant agency, not a plain photocopy.

How long does it take to apostille a personal document?+

It varies depending on the state or federal authority involved and whether certified translation is needed. It is best to confirm the estimated time for your specific case before setting a deadline.

Notice

Informational content. Integramerica is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Requirements and final acceptance depend on the receiving authority.

Contact

Need to apostille a personal document?

Tell us what document you have, the state that issued it and the country where you will use it. We will review your case and point you to the right authentication path.

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