Apostille and Certifications

Apostille and Certifications

Authentications of Hawai‘i Pacific University documents are often called “legalizations” or “certifications.” An Apostille is a form of authentication appropriate to countries which have signed the 1961 Hague Conference on Private International Law. They are often needed in adoptions, applications for jobs or graduate programs abroad, and certain business/employment transactions. A more comprehensive description is available here.

The Determination of whether an APOSTILLE or CERTIFICATION is issued depends upon which country the documents are to be sent. If the country does recognize the Hague Conference, then an   Apostille  will be issued. If the country does not recognize the Hague Conference, a   Certification  will be issued.   Here  is a list of countries that recognize the Hague Conference. 

 

PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING APOSTILLE

  • Complete and sign the HPU   Application for Apostille.

  • Send the Application along with an official HPU transcript and/or your original HPU diploma (copies will not be accepted) to the Registrar’s Office at Hawai‘i Pacific University. (Transcript ordering information can be found here.  To reorder a diploma, click here. Please select Hawai‘i Pacific University as the recipient for both documents: registrar@hpu.edu or HPU Registrar's Office)  

  • Pay the processing fee of $75. Checks or money orders must clear and funds deposited to HPU before the Apostille process will begin.

  • Document(s) will be notarized by a duly commissioned Notary Public of the State of Hawai‘i.

  • Document(s) are then forwarded to the Office of the Lt. Governor for the issuance of authentication. 

  • Please allow approximately four weeks for processing time.

  • The Office of the Lieutenant Governor reserves the right to deny an application for Apostille or Certification. 

  • Document(s) are returned back to the Registrar’s Office and either picked up or mailed to the address provided on the application.

  • If an Apostille or Certification is required for multiple countries, a separate application and the $75 fee is required for each country.

 

  IF A COUNTRY DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE 1961 HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW, A CERTIFICATION IS ISSUED AS FOLLOWS:

  • For document(s) requiring Certification, they are submitted to the First Circuit Court  for verification of the notary’s signature and commission.

  • Document(s) are sent  to the Lt. Governor’s Office.

  • Once document(s) are returned from the Lt. Governor’s office, they are sent back to the requestor.
  • This process takes approximately three to four weeks.

  • It is the requestor's responsibility to then send the doctuments to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.