Julian Drago
July 21, 2025
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When an entrepreneur or company decides to expand internationally, one of the first challenges they face is the legal recognition of their documents abroad. At this point, a key concept arises: the apostille or “to apostille a document.”
You may have heard of it when registering your business in another country, opening international bank accounts, handling visas, or even validating academic degrees.
But what does it really mean? When is it needed? How is it done?
In this blog, we will explain everything you need to know about the apostille, its origin, how it works, and why it is so important for those looking to expand their business outside their home country.
Apostille is the process by which the authenticity of a public document issued in one country is certified so that it can be valid and recognized in another country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention.
In simple terms, the apostille is an international validation that ensures a document (such as a company incorporation certificate, power of attorney, contract, or academic certificate) is authentic and therefore can have legal effect in another country.
The use of the apostille depends on your personal or business situation. Some common cases are:
In summary, the apostille is essential when a document from your country must have legal validity in another.
It depends on each country’s legislation, but in general, the following can be apostilled:
An important point: private documents (e.g., contracts between individuals) are not apostilled directly. They must first be notarized and then can be apostilled.
In most countries, the responsible authority is usually:
For example, in the United States, each state has its own office to apostille documents issued within its jurisdiction.
Although each country has its procedure, the general process is usually:
In some countries, this process may take days, in others weeks, and in some places, it can even be done online.
This is a very common mistake.
That’s why you should always confirm whether the country where you will use the document is part of the Convention.
The costs vary depending on the country. In some places, the process is free; in others, it can cost between $10 and $50 USD per document.
In the U.S., the cost of a state apostille is usually around $20 per document, although it depends on the state.
For entrepreneurs from Latin America looking to expand to the U.S., apostille is a common process.
For example, if you register an LLC in the United States and later need to present documents in your country of origin (or vice versa), those documents will likely need to be apostilled to be officially recognized.
At Openbiz, we support our clients with these processes, ensuring that their business documents are ready to be used both in the U.S. and in their country of residence.
The apostille is an essential procedure for those who want their documents to be valid in other countries quickly and easily. For business owners and entrepreneurs, especially those who want to operate in the U.S., this process can be the key to opening doors in legal, banking, and commercial matters.
While it may seem like an administrative detail, having your documents apostilled saves time, avoids rejections, and gives your company international credibility.
Do you want to expand your business to the U.S. without headaches from procedures like apostilles, account openings, or tax handling? At Openbiz, we guide you step by step so your business can grow on solid foundations.
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