Business Document Apostille
Expanding into a foreign market often requires apostilled business documents before a bank, government agency, or local partner will move forward. Pennsylvania corporate records and private business documents each follow a slightly different path to the apostille. We handle the courier work so your team can focus on the deal.
State-filed vs. privately produced documents
The biggest source of confusion with business apostilles is knowing which category your document falls into. If Pennsylvania issued it as part of your corporate registration, it likely qualifies for a direct apostille. If your attorneys or your company drafted it internally, it needs a Pennsylvania notary first. When in doubt, reach out before you mail anything.
What is a business document apostille?
Pennsylvania business documents fall into two categories. State-filed corporate records, such as a certificate of good standing or certified articles of incorporation, are issued directly by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Because these documents already carry the state's certification, they can be apostilled without any additional notarization.
Privately produced business documents, such as corporate bylaws, board resolutions, operating agreements, or shareholder certificates, are not state records. These must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public before the apostille can be attached. The state authenticates the notary's credentials rather than the document itself.
We hand-deliver your documents to the appropriate office in Harrisburg and ship them back to you with tracking. Your team can send documents to us from anywhere. State-filed records can often be ordered directly through the Pennsylvania Department of State and sent to us as a next step.
When people need one
- Opening a bank account or establishing a subsidiary in a foreign country
- Registering a Pennsylvania business entity with a foreign government or commercial registry
- Entering into international contracts that require verified corporate authority
- Clearing goods through foreign customs or trade compliance processes
- Satisfying due diligence requirements from a foreign investor or partner
- Meeting requirements for international franchise or licensing agreements
How Keystone handles it
The same simple process for every document. We handle the slow part for you.
- Step 1
Order online
Tell us what you need apostilled and check out in minutes. We email a prepaid label right away. No account needed.
- Step 2
Mail us your document
Attach the prepaid label and send it our way. You get tracking so you can follow it all the way to our door.
- Step 3
We apostille it and ship it back
We hand-carry it to the Pennsylvania Department of State in Harrisburg, get the apostille added, and ship it back, tracked.
Before you send it
We are a courier service, not a notary. Your document must already meet the state requirements before you mail it. If the state cannot accept it, we send it back so you can fix it and reorder.
- State-issued documents such as a certificate of good standing must be an original or certified copy from the Pennsylvania Department of State
- Private corporate documents such as bylaws or resolutions must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public before submission
- Notarized private documents must have a complete notary block including commission number, expiration date, and legible seal
- Mail original documents with a prepaid return label enclosed; do not send uncertified photocopies
- Confirm the destination country is a Hague Apostille Convention member before ordering
Common questions
How do I get a certificate of good standing from Pennsylvania?
You can order a certificate of good standing directly through the Pennsylvania Department of State's online portal or by mail. Once you receive the original certified document, mail it to us and we will get the apostille attached.
My company is registered in Pennsylvania but our bylaws were drafted by an attorney in another state. Can they still be apostilled in Pennsylvania?
The apostille must match the state where the notary is commissioned. If your bylaws are notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public, Pennsylvania can apostille them. If they were notarized in another state, the apostille would need to come from that state instead.
Can you handle multiple business documents in one order?
Yes. Each document is a separate apostille and is priced individually, but you can include multiple documents in a single shipment. Add each one to your order at checkout and package them together when you mail them to us.
How long does a business document apostille take?
We deliver to Harrisburg on business days. Turnaround depends on the service speed you choose at checkout: Standard is about 5 business days, Expedited is 48 to 72 hours, and Rush is same day or next business day.
Can we order from outside the United States?
Yes. You can place your order from anywhere in the world. Ship the documents to us using any trackable service with a prepaid return label enclosed, and we will send the apostilled documents back to any address you specify.
Ready when you are.
Working against a closing deadline or a foreign registration window? Rush service is available at checkout and we deliver to Harrisburg the same business day.