Certificate of Free Sale & Certificate of Origin Apostille
For exporters shipping products abroad
In short: Exporters are often asked for an authenticated Certificate of Free Sale or Certificate of Origin. Whether it needs an apostille or embassy legalization depends on the destination country. We prepare, notarize where needed, and authenticate these export documents, and coordinate embassy legalization for non-Hague markets.
What these documents are
A Certificate of Free Sale shows a product is legally sold in the U.S.; a Certificate of Origin states where goods were produced. Foreign customs, health ministries, and importers frequently require one, authenticated, before clearing your product.
Apostille or embassy legalization?
For a destination in the Hague Apostille Convention, the notarized certificate is apostilled by the Illinois Secretary of State. For a non-Hague market (for example the UAE, Qatar, or Kuwait) it needs authentication plus embassy legalization, often with a Chamber of Commerce step — see UAE attestation and apostille vs. authentication vs. legalization. We'll confirm the exact chain for your destination.
How it works — a 100% remote process
- Tell us what you need. Call or text 847-436-5222 or request a quote. We confirm exactly which document you have and where it's going.
- Send us your document. Mail or courier it to our Naperville office.
- We submit to the Illinois Secretary of State. Standard by mail, or we hand-carry it to the Chicago counter for expedited processing.
- We return it, tracked. Back to you or straight to your recipient, domestic or international, with status you can follow the whole way.
Cost & turnaround
Notarized export documents start at $99 per document for the apostille route; embassy legalization varies by consulate and is quoted separately. Recurring exporter? Ask about volume handling.
Why Efficient Biometrics
We're a licensed and insured service with a real, staffed office in Naperville (682 Illinois Route 59) — not a P.O. box — a notary on site, document-level tracking so you always know where your originals are, and local proximity to the Chicago Secretary of State counter for genuine expedited service. Call or text 847-436-5222.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle both apostille and embassy legalization?
Yes; we apostille for Hague countries and coordinate embassy legalization for non-Hague markets.
Does the certificate need to be notarized first?
Usually yes — these are private documents, so they're notarized so the state can authenticate the signature. We can notarize it for you.
We export regularly — can you set up recurring handling?
Yes; tell us your markets and cadence and we'll streamline it.