U.S. Embassy in Austria

Apostille

The Apostille cannot be obtained from a U.S. Embassy.

The Apostille is a validation stamp ensuring that a certain document is recognized in certain foreign countries (countries that signed the Hague Convention treaty).

Basically, a document is only valid in the country in which it was issued. Validation for recognition in another country used to be a very complicated and time-consuming matter and involved, in hierarchical order, several authorities of the issuing country, and, as a final step, validation by the Consulate of the country, in which the document was to be recognized.

In order to facilitate recognition of a document abroad, an international treaty regarding mutual recognition of documents was signed by many countries, including the U.S. and Austria.

This treaty is called the Hague Convention.

According to that treaty a document originating in one Convention country is recognized in all other Convention countries if it bears the so-called Apostille stamp, which is a validation performed by the superior office in the country and state (province) where it was issued. In the United States the Secretary of State and the Deputy Secretary of State of the individual U.S. states provides the Apostille (Designated Competent Authority(ies)).

In cases where one or both countries are not part to the Hague convention, the old validation procedure involving the Consulates is still used.

Please note that in cases where both countries have signed the Hague convention, the Apostille procedure has to be followed. The convention expressly rules out the old validation procedure performed by the Consulates.

Examples of fee-based online services below. The two examples are the result of a google search and are in no way an endorsement by the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Austria, we assume no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms:

-Apostille Embassy Legalization Visa and Fingerprinting services (authxperts.com)

-Nationwide Document Authentication Specialists

Apostilles on consular documents

For Apostilles on consular documents such as Consular Reports of Birth Abroad or Consular Reports of Death Abroad, you must contact the Department of State, Passport Vital Records section. Instructions on how to request an apostille for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad can be found on this website, for a Consular Report of Death Abroad can be found on this website.