What Countries Require an Apostille? | Texas Apostille Guide

A Guide for Texas Documents

If you need to use a Texas document in another country, you may have been told that you need an apostille.

But what exactly is an apostille, which countries use them, and how do you know whether your document needs one?

At Point Uno, we help customers in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Dallas, Plano, and surrounding DFW areas with apostille and international document services.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate used to authenticate the origin of certain public documents so they can be presented in another country.

Apostilles are used between countries participating in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. If the destination country is not covered by the Convention, additional authentication or legalization steps may be required instead.

For Texas public records, the Texas Secretary of State is the state authority that issues apostilles and authentications.

Which Countries Accept Apostilles?

As of 2026, the Hague Apostille Convention has 130 Contracting Parties, although effective dates and relationships between particular countries should always be checked before processing a document.

Some of the countries where customers commonly need U.S. documents for international use include:

Mexico 🇲🇽Texas birth certificates, marriage certificates, powers of attorney, school records, and other documents may need an apostille depending on what the receiving authority requires.

Spain 🇪🇸Apostilled U.S. documents may be requested for matters involving study, marriage, residency, citizenship-related documentation, or other administrative processes.

Italy 🇮🇹Birth, marriage, death, and other U.S. records are commonly gathered for use in Italy, including certain citizenship-related processes.

Philippines 🇵🇭The Philippines participates in the Apostille Convention, so eligible U.S. public documents intended for use there may require an apostille.

India 🇮🇳Customers may need apostilles for documents being used in India for business, education, family, property, or other purposes.

France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Portugal 🇵🇹 and other European countries

Many European countries participate in the Hague Apostille Convention.

Other participating countries include **Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and many others.

What Texas Documents Can Be Apostilled?

Depending on the document and its intended use, documents may include:

• Birth, marriage and death certificates

• Divorce records

• Diplomas and transcripts

• Powers of attorney

• Affidavits

• Business documents

• Certain notarized documents

• Other eligible Texas public records

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The document must meet the appropriate requirements before the Texas Secretary of State can issue its certificate.

What About an FBI Background Check?

This is an important distinction.

An FBI background check is a federal document, so it is not apostilled by the Texas Secretary of State. Federal documents are handled through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.

This is one reason it's important to identify who issued your document before starting the apostille process.

What If the Country Is Not Part of the Hague Apostille Convention?

The process can be different.

For a non-Hague destination, additional authentication may be required. The Texas Secretary of State currently issues a Universal Apostille for Texas public records, but documents going to a country outside the Apostille Convention will generally require additional authentication through the U.S. Department of State.

Depending on the destination and document, additional legalization requirements may also apply.

Does My Document Need to Be Translated?

Possibly.

An apostille and a translation serve two different purposes.

The apostille authenticates the origin of the public document. A translation makes the document understandable in the language required by the receiving organization.

The receiving authority determines whether a translation is required, so customers should confirm its requirements before submitting their documents.

Point Uno also offers certified document translation services when needed.

How Do I Know What My Country Requires?

Before starting, confirm three things:

1. What document is required?For example, a birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma, power of attorney, or background check.

2. Who issued the document?Texas, another U.S. state, or the federal government.

3. Where will the document be used?The destination country affects the authentication process.

Point Uno can then assist with the applicable document service. We do not determine legal eligibility or advise customers about which documents a foreign government requires.

Apostille Services in Carrollton, Texas

Point Uno provides apostille and document services for customers throughout Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Dallas, Plano, Addison, Lewisville, and surrounding DFW communities.

If you already know which document you need to use internationally, contact us and tell us:

• What type of document you have• Which state or federal agency issued it• What country it will be used in

We can explain the apostille, authentication, translation, or document services Point Uno offers.

Point UnoCarrollton, TexasCall or Text: 945-334-3079 pointuno.com

Point Uno is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Document requirements are determined by the receiving government, consulate, agency, school, employer, or other organization.