The term "apostille" refers to a form of certification for documents that are intended for use in foreign countries. It verifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document acted, and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. An apostille simplifies the legalization process for documents, fulfilling the requirements of the Hague Convention of 1961.
The word "apostille" comes from the French term "apostille," which means "a note added." This, in turn, is derived from the Latin "apostilla," meaning "little postscript."