Authenticate your documents for use abroad.
APVI helps individuals, law firms, and companies prepare documents for international use through apostille, state authentication, federal authentication, and embassy legalization workflows.
Timing varies by document type, state, federal agency, embassy, and destination country.
Service, government, embassy, and shipping fees are shown before payment where applicable.
Questions? Speak with an authentication specialist: (800) 766-0452
Reviewed by APVI customers on Trustpilot
All 50 States · Federal Authentication · Embassy Legalization · Specialist Review
Not sure which service you need?
A real APVI specialist can help you choose between passports, travel visas, and document authentication, explain the documents required, and tell you what happens after you place your order.
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Apostille, authentication, or embassy legalization? APVI helps you choose the right path.
The right process depends on the document type, where it was issued, and the country where it will be used. APVI confirms the correct authentication chain before your documents move forward.
Apostille
For documents going to countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Best for: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, FBI background checks, corporate documents, and notarized documents where apostille is accepted.
Start Apostille OrderFederal Authentication
For documents that require U.S. Department of State or federal-level authentication.
Best for: FBI background checks, federal documents, and documents requiring federal authentication before use abroad.
Start Federal AuthenticationEmbassy Legalization
For documents going to countries that require embassy or consular legalization instead of, or in addition to, apostille.
Best for: Non-Hague countries, corporate documents, personal documents, commercial documents, and embassy-required workflows.
Start Embassy LegalizationNot Sure Yet?
Tell APVI your document type and destination country. An authentication specialist can help confirm the right process.
Talk to a Specialist · (800) 766-0452Personal, professional, academic, and corporate documents.
APVI supports a wide range of documents for international use. Requirements vary by document type, issuing authority, and destination country.
Personal Documents
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Death certificates
- Name-change documents
- Adoption documents
Education Documents
- Diplomas
- Transcripts
- Enrollment letters
- Academic records
- Teaching credentials
Background Checks
- FBI background checks
- Local police records
- State background checks, where applicable
Corporate Documents
- Articles of incorporation
- Certificates of good standing
- Powers of attorney
- Board resolutions
- Commercial invoices
- Company letters
Legal & Court Documents
- Court orders
- Affidavits
- Notarized statements
- Certified copies
- Legal declarations
Medical / Professional Documents
- Medical letters
- Professional licenses
- Employment letters
- Experience letters
- Authorization letters
Clear pricing and timelines before you send originals.
Authentication timelines and fees depend on the document type, issuing state, destination country, and whether state, federal, or embassy legalization is required.
Apostille Services
For documents going to Hague Apostille Convention countries.
Federal Authentication
For FBI background checks and federal documents requiring U.S. Department of State authentication.
Embassy Legalization
For countries requiring embassy or consular legalization.
Corporate Document Packages
For companies, law firms, HR teams, and organizations authenticating multiple documents.
Government, state, federal, embassy, consular, shipping, and third-party fees may vary by destination and document type. APVI confirms the required chain before your order moves forward.
A guided authentication process from review to return delivery.
APVI helps confirm the right chain, reviews your documents, manages required submissions, and returns your authenticated documents using the selected delivery method.
Start your authentication order
Tell APVI your document type, issuing authority, and destination country.
Upload documents for specialist review
Securely upload copies or scans so an APVI authentication specialist can confirm the likely process before originals are shipped.
Receive shipping instructions
APVI confirms what originals are needed and provides shipping instructions or a prepaid FedEx label where applicable.
APVI handles the authentication chain
APVI coordinates the required state, federal, and embassy legalization steps based on your document and destination.
Receive authenticated documents
Your completed documents are returned using the selected delivery method, ready for the next step in your international process.
Not sure where to start?
An authentication specialist can confirm the likely chain for your document and destination.
(800) 766-0452The destination country determines the process.
Some countries accept an apostille. Others require a longer chain that may include state authentication, federal authentication, and embassy legalization.
Apostille
- Used for Hague Apostille Convention countries
- Usually issued by a state authority or federal authority depending on document type
- Often simpler than embassy legalization
- Still must match the document type and issuing authority
Embassy Legalization
- Used for many non-Hague countries
- May require notarization, state authentication, federal authentication, and embassy legalization
- Embassy requirements vary by country
- Mistakes in order or seals can delay acceptance
Not sure which one applies? Call (800) 766-0452.
Authentication chains are detail work. APVI helps get the sequence right.
One missing seal or incorrect sequence can delay acceptance abroad. APVI helps confirm the correct chain before submission.
- Authentication specialist review before submission
- State, federal, and embassy legalization support
- Experience with state-level authentication workflows across all 50 states
- Destination-specific chain guidance
- Secure document upload and FedEx shipping guidance
- Status updates from start to finish, with support for individuals, law firms, companies, and organizations
The experience behind every authentication.
Authentication is easy to get wrong when the chain is unclear.
Choosing apostille vs legalization, issuing authority, notarization, state authentication, federal authentication, embassy legalization, destination-country rules, shipping and tracking — every step has to line up.
The DIY path
- You determine the process yourself
- You may not know whether the document needs state, federal, or embassy steps
- Requirements vary by destination country
- One missing seal or wrong sequence can delay the process
- You manage shipping and status updates yourself
The APVI path
- APVI helps confirm the correct chain
- An authentication specialist reviews your document path
- APVI coordinates required state, federal, and embassy steps where applicable
- You receive shipping guidance and status updates
- Real human support is available
Authentication support for law firms, HR teams, universities, and companies.
APVI helps organizations authenticate documents for international use, employee mobility, overseas business, academic programs, and legal matters.
Law Firms
Support for client documents, court documents, affidavits, powers of attorney, and international filings.
Corporate Teams
Support for certificates of good standing, articles of incorporation, commercial documents, and powers of attorney.
HR & Global Mobility
Support for employee documents, background checks, employment letters, and relocation-related documents.
Universities & Schools
Support for diplomas, transcripts, enrollment letters, faculty documents, and student travel documents.
Sensitive documents deserve organized handling.
Authentication work often requires original documents, certified copies, notarized documents, or background checks. APVI combines secure uploads, shipping guidance, specialist review, and status updates.
Documents prepared for international use, without the runaround.
APVI customers rely on specialist guidance when apostille, authentication, and legalization requirements become confusing or time-sensitive.
"I needed three documents apostilled for a Spanish marriage license — fast. APVI got them done in 4 days and walked me through every step."
"Our law firm uses APVI for the international corporate documents we authenticate. Clear instructions and consistent follow-through."
"The Saudi embassy chain is confusing. APVI told me exactly what to send and handled the steps in the right order."
Apostille and authentication questions, answered.
Still have questions? Call us at (800) 766-0452.
Start your document authentication with APVI.
Tell us your document type and destination country. APVI will help confirm the correct apostille, authentication, or embassy legalization path.
Final acceptance is determined by the receiving foreign authority, embassy, consulate, or organization.
What APVI Does and What the Government Authority Does
APVI helps manage the process. Secretary of State offices, the U.S. Department of State, and embassies issue the authentications.
What APVI does
- Reviews documents, copies, and the required authentication path
- Confirms the order of steps for the destination country
- Prepares and tracks submissions to the correct offices
- Handles courier submission and pickup where eligible
- Provides status updates and human support
What the government authority does
- Reviews each document and verifies the signature or seal
- Determines whether the apostille or authentication is issued
- Sets state, federal, embassy, and consular fees
- Controls processing times
- Issues the apostille or authentication certificate
APVI is a private document authentication company, not a government agency. You may submit documents directly to the issuing authority without using APVI.
Who We Are and What That Means for You
APVI is a private document authentication and apostille services company. APVI is not the U.S. Department of State, a Secretary of State office, an embassy, or a consulate, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government. You may submit documents directly to the issuing authority without using APVI. APVI service fees are separate from state, federal, embassy, and consular fees.