How do an apostille and notarization differ?

Comparison

Process	What it concerns	What it does not establish
Notarization	A particular notarial act, such as an acknowledgment or jurat, performed under the rules that govern the notary.	That the organization abroad will accept the document or that an apostille has been issued.
Apostille	The origin of an official signature or seal for use under the Hague Apostille Convention.	That a document’s contents are true, that a signature was voluntarily made, or that a notarial act was required.

How the processes can connect

A private document may be signed before a notary. If an apostille is later relevant, the certificate may concern the notary’s signature rather than the private document’s factual contents. By contrast, a certified government record may already carry an official signature or seal and can follow a route that does not involve a notary.

Three common points of confusion

An ordinary copy is not automatically an official or certified copy. A certified copy is not automatically notarized. And a notarization is not automatically an apostille. Each term identifies a different feature of a document process.

The destination determines whether an apostille route is relevant

The Apostille Convention simplifies authentication among participating countries. For non-Convention destinations, a different authentication or legalization chain can apply. Notarization alone does not answer that international question.

Primary sources

• U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document
• HCCH — Apostille Section
• NASS — State and territory notary information