In Texas, USA, the procedure for getting documents apostilled will change starting August 5, 2025. This update comes from the official website of the Texas Secretary of State.
Apostille in the USA
The United States joined the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, which removes the need for full consular legalization of foreign official documents, on December 24, 1980. The Convention officially took effect for the U.S. on December 15, 1981.
Before that date, if you wanted to use U.S. documents abroad — or foreign documents in the U.S. — you had to go through a long and expensive process called consular legalization. Since 1981, in most cases, an apostille has been enough for the document to be accepted.
However, an apostille can only be used for documents intended for countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If the country is not a member, you still need to go through consular legalization. Some U.S. states have also introduced a “universal certificate” — a special form that serves as both an apostille and a consular legalization stamp.
В отличие от многих других государств, в США нет единой структуры, которая бы проводила апостилирование и консульскую легализацию документов в национальных масштабах. Орган, уполномоченный заверить документ апостилем, зависит от того, кем он был издан.
Unlike many other countries, the U.S. does not have a single national authority that handles apostilles and legalizations. The office that can issue your apostille depends on who issued the document in the first place:
- Federal government documents – processed by the Office of Authentications at the U.S. Department of State.
- Federal court documents – handled by clerks of the Federal Court System.
- All other documents (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical records, educational records, etc.) – processed by state authorities, usually the Secretary of State or the Lieutenant Governor.
These authorities don’t handle requests in person. Instead, you must submit your documents to the authorized divisions within their offices.
Apostille in Texas
In 2025, the State of Texas is changing the way documents are apostilled. The new rules take effect on August 5, but starting July 25 you can already submit your application using the updated process. In Texas, the official authorized to issue apostilles is the Secretary of State (as of 2025 — Jane Nelson).
Applications are submitted to the Secretary of State’s Authentications Unit.
Texas issues a universal certificate. This means that documents certified with it can be used both in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention and in countries that are not.
In Texas, public documents are divided into two categories for legalization purposes:
- Recordable documents – such as birth and marriage certificates, wills, court decisions, certified copies of laws, official background checks, and vehicle registration certificates. These are issued by government officials and can be legalized directly, without any extra verification.
- Non-recordable documents – such as municipal certificates, notarized copies (including diplomas, driver’s licenses, and permits), powers of attorney, and certified translations. These must be accompanied by a special statement from the original issuer, with the signature notarized.
If a notarized copy is made from an identity document (for example, a driver’s license), only the document owner can submit it for legalization. A certified translation must include the translator’s statement and signature.
ou can verify the authenticity of a Texas apostille online through a special service on the Secretary of State’s website.
Changes in the apostille process in Texas
Previously, there were only two ways to get a document apostilled in Texas:
- In person, by standing in line;
- By mail.
Starting August 5, 2025, the Texas Secretary of State’s office will also allow you to submit documents by appointment. Appointments can be booked beginning July 25 via a special form on the Secretary of State’s website.
Documents are now submitted in person on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Fridays, documents will be accepted from those who have made an appointment in advance.
By offering scheduled appointments, we are working to reduce wait times and make the process more convenient for our customers,
— said Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson.
Each individual or business can book only one appointment per day and submit up to 10 documents for apostille at that time.
Standard apostille application forms are available on the Secretary of State’s website..
They must include:
- Applicant’s full name;
- Post address;
- Phone number;
- Email address;
- Country where the document will be used;
- Number of documents;
- Payment method (check or money order);
- Document return method (mail or courier).
What is an apostille?
What is an apostille? Why do I need an apostille? How do I get an apostille? - Our video will explain everything you need to know about the apostille. If you have a document that needs to be certified with an apostille for use abroad, Schmidt and Schmidt will assist you! We provide apostille services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
