Notary Geek · Documents for use abroad

Federal apostilles & document legalization

Have an FBI record, another federal document, or a notarized document going abroad? We review what you have, identify the required certifications, and coordinate the handling agreed in your quote.

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No charge to start intake. Pricing is quoted after review, before payment or handling begins.

Notary Geek is a private service operated by GoodWare LLC. We are not a government agency or embassy.

Which service fits your document?

You do not need to choose a certificate yourself. The document source and destination determine the route.

Federal record · Apostille route

1. Federal document apostille

For eligible federal documents used where the Apostille Convention applies between the United States and the destination.

Examples: FBI Identity History Summaries, federal court records, and eligible agency certificates. We check the issuing office, signature and certification format.

Handling: Review and submission preparation for a U.S. Department of State apostille. Agency certification may be needed first.

Result: A proper apostille completes the legalization chain for that document; no additional embassy legalization follows that apostille route.

Federal record · Outside the apostille route

2. Federal authentication & legalization

For eligible federal documents going to a destination outside the applicable Apostille Convention route.

Examples: An FBI record or federal agency document requiring authentication for overseas use.

Handling: Check agency certification, arrange U.S. Department of State authentication where required, and coordinate embassy or consular legalization only when the confirmed destination rules require it.

Result: The required authentication/legalization package. This is a different route from an apostille.

Notarized document · Outside the apostille route

3. Notarized-document legalization

For private documents requiring notarization and authentication/legalization for those destinations.

Examples: Powers of attorney, affidavits and business authorizations. Already notarized? Send the complete certificate and notarial state for review.

Handling: Confirm the notarial act, any county or state certification, federal authentication and consular stages that actually apply. We explain any new notarization needed before proceeding.

Result: The confirmed sequence for your document. Some requests need fewer stages; every document does not require every step.

Keep federal records on the federal route. Do not notarize an original federal record. Notarizing a photocopy or a statement about it does not convert the federal record into a state-apostille document.

Send what you have. We check the next step.

Use our existing request form. Include a clear, complete document or the original agency file, and these review facts:

Document type and whether you already have it.
Issuing agency or notarial state, including the issue or notarization date.
Destination country or territory and the receiving office.
Certification status: original, agency-issued electronic record, certified copy, scan, or already authenticated.
Recipient instructions, including written requirements or a rejection and any translation requirements.
Deadline, delivery location and whether you need a scan-back.

From review to the finished package

Start the request
Send the document facts through intake at no charge. You can start even if you are unsure which service applies.
Review the route and quote
We explain missing items, the required stages, charges and the current handling estimate. Embassy work is quoted only after its requirements and availability are confirmed.
Approve the scope
Approve the quote and follow the document and payment instructions. Wait for confirmed shipping instructions before sending originals.
Handling and delivery
We coordinate the agreed submissions and return delivery. Scan-backs and domestic or international shipping are confirmed in your quote; a scan does not replace a required original.

Before you send documents

Can I use an electronic FBI result or a scanned copy?

The FBI issues electronic results and permits printing them. Send the original agency-issued file for review if you have it. We check the official signature/watermark and current submission requirements. A photograph, customer scan or ordinary photocopy is not automatically an eligible agency original or certified copy. Other agencies have their own certification rules.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

Pricing is quoted after review. We separate Notary Geek preparation/handling, government processing, any embassy or consular stage, and shipping time and charges. Government queues and consular availability can change; our handling does not shorten them. Tell us your deadline before approving work. We do not promise expedited government access or guaranteed delivery by a particular date.

Does a country's Convention membership settle the route?

We check the document's eligibility, the destination's effective date and territory, and any objections affecting its Convention relationship with the United States. For a legalization route, we check the responsible embassy or consulate's current instructions, jurisdiction, document and translation requirements, fees and submission method. A country list alone is not enough.

Does authentication guarantee that my document will be accepted?

No. Authentication concerns the official signature and seal, not the truth of the document's contents. Translation, document age, purpose and the receiving office's filing requirements can still matter. We review written requirements and explain any unresolved issue before quoting; we do not guarantee recipient acceptance or provide legal, tax or immigration advice.

Official requirements behind the review

Sources checked October 21, 2026. Requirements are rechecked for your document and destination before a route is confirmed.

Start with your document and destination

No charge to start intake. Receive the route and quote before payment.

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