How to Apostille Documents for Paraguay

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates documents for use in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Paraguay requires apostilled documents (birth certificate, background check, marriage certificate) because it verifies the documents are genuine and legally issued. Without an apostille, Paraguay's immigration office will reject your application.

Apostille processing times vary by country: US State Department takes 4-6 weeks standard (expedited services available for ~$100 extra), UK FCDO takes 2-3 weeks standard, Germany takes 1-2 weeks, and most EU countries take 1-3 weeks. Plan your Paraguay residency timeline accordingly, and remember apostilled documents are typically valid for 6 months.

Apostille costs vary: US State Department charges $20 per document, UK FCDO charges £45 per document, Germany charges €20 per document, and most EU countries charge €15-25. You'll typically need 3 documents apostilled (birth certificate, background check, possibly marriage certificate), so budget $60-135 total for apostilles.

Documents must be apostilled in the country where they were issued, not where you currently live. If you were born in the UK but live in Germany, your birth certificate must be apostilled by the UK FCDO, not Germany. This is a common complication for expats and may require hiring document agents in multiple countries.

Get documents apostilled FIRST, then translated. The apostille certifies the original document, so it must be attached before translation. In Paraguay, you'll need certified Spanish translations of both the document AND the apostille. Use a translator registered with Paraguay's courts for accepted translations.

After receiving your FBI Identity History Summary, send it to the US State Department for apostille. Mail to: US Department of State, Office of Authentications, 600 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20006. Include $20 fee per document (money order payable to US Department of State), a self-addressed prepaid return envelope, and a cover letter. Processing takes 4-6 weeks.

If your apostilled documents expire (typically after 6 months) during Paraguay's processing, you'll need to obtain new documents and new apostilles. This is why timeline planning is critical. Start with your longest lead-time items (FBI check for Americans) and don't apostille documents until you're close to traveling to Paraguay.

Yes, document expediting services can handle apostilles on your behalf. In the US, services charge $100-200 per document for faster processing. In the UK, legalisation services charge £29-87 for handling. These services are useful if you live abroad or need faster processing, but add significant cost.