An apostille is a form of certification that is used to verify the authenticity of a document, such as a birth certificate or diploma. It is typically used when a document is going to be used in a foreign country.
An apostille is issued by a government authority, such as a Secretary of State, and it verifies that the document is genuine and has been properly signed and stamped. It is a simplified version of the legalization process.
Once an apostille is attached to a document, it is recognized and accepted by the other countries that are part of the Hague Convention of 1961.