If you are a Tennessean looking to travel abroad for work, study, or other official reasons, chances are you may need to obtain a Tennessee apostille stamp on your documents. For example, to continue with your studies in any country under the Hague Convention, you require apostille certification. This stamp authenticates any diplomas you acquired in Tennessee before admission to that particular foreign learning institution.
How To Apostille a Document in Tennessee?
When applying to work abroad, some countries require criminal background checks. Other countries request FBI background checks for work visas, even for non-governmental jobs. All these documents must have an apostille certification; otherwise, they’ll be rejected. Also, note that countries that are part of the Hague Convention require an apostille, while those that aren’t part of the convention require an authentication certificate.
The Tennessee Secretary of State office in Nashville can only apostille documents issued by the state of Tennessee. This includes documents issued by Tennessee’s County Clerks, State Registrar, or Secretary of State. Such documents include:
- College transcripts
- Driver’s licenses
- Marriage certificates
- Divorce decree
- Birth certificate
- Death certificate
The process of obtaining an Apostille from the Tennessee Secretary of State is not easy. Here’s an overview.
First, some documents need to be notarized before obtaining a TN apostille stamp. Then, after that, you’ll need to deliver the document to the County Clerk for signature certification. Lastly, you’ll need to complete the apostille form and submit it to the Tennessee Secretary of State. The forms should be accompanied by the public document for apostille certification.
Obtaining Apostille for State-Issued or Federal Documents
Additionally, the Tennessee Secretary of State office can only apostille documents issued by the state of Tennessee. This means that federal documents need to be sent to the US Secretary of State office in Washington DC. Similarly, documents issued outside Tennessee must be sent to the state where they were issued.
For instance, if you live in Greenville or Oak ridge, it will take you an average of three hours to travel to Nashville, the state’s capital, to acquire a TN apostille certification. Having a busy work schedule or full-time study makes it even more difficult because government offices only operate during regular working hours for in-person services. Even though you can send the documents to the State Department in Nashville via mail, an Apostille process may still take days or sometimes weeks.
Travel Visa Pro Offers the Best Apostille Service in TN
If your document is processed successfully, you’ll still need to pick it up at the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office. Alternatively, you can enclose a prepaid return shipping label with your name and address if you want the documents sent to you via mail. However, missing one document or filling out the required documents incorrectly means you have to start the entire process again.
We Are More Than an Apostille Service Provider
This is where Travel Visa Pro comes in to help you obtain an apostille in Tennessee without much hassle. You don’t have to drive for hours or reschedule your travel plans because of delayed processing or tight deadlines. At Travel Visa Pro, you can trust us with your Apostille certification, passport renewals, visa applications, travel insurance, passport photos, among other services. With over forty years of experience, our team of experts takes over the tedious process of apostille application, so you can focus on what to wear during your trip, what to carry, among other not-so-stressful tasks.