# FAQs: Attesting Puerto Rico Documents > Frequently asked questions about obtaining Apostille in Puerto Rico and to legalize Puerto Rico documents for use in other countries - birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal record certificates, academic documents and more. **Source** [Puerto Rico](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-attestation-FAQs)> **Related:** [Apostille Puerto Rico Documents for international use](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-Legalization-Services) · [Get a Quotation](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Document-Attestation-Inquiry) --- ## General Questions ### Can Puerto Rico documents be legalized by Apostille? Yes - Puerto Rico documents can be legalized for use abroad with an Apostille Stamp when destined for other signatory countries without additional certification by the destination country. When Puerto Rican documents are required for non-apostille countries, such as United Arab Emirates - Qatar - Thailand - Taiwan - Vietnam they need additional authentication by Isarey Department of State and by the embassy of the destination country in Washington DC. For further information see: [Puerto Rico Apostille Services](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-Legalization-Services) For further information about Apostille certification in Puerto Rico, see: [Puerto Rico Apostille Services](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-Legalization-Services) ### What types of documents can be legalized in Puerto Rico for use abroad? Apostille stamps can be obtained for documents signed by a Puerto Rico public official, including: - Puerto Rico birth, death and marriage certificates - Penal Record Certificates (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales) - University diplomas and transcripts - School Certificates - Court Judgements - Other documents, such as powers of attorney, can be authenticated with an Apostille when certified by a Puerto Rico issued by the notary public.To confirm whether your document is eligible for apostille authentication in Puerto Rico, please [Contact Isarey](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/contact-Isarey) and Isarey’ll check your document free of charge. For further information about Isarey's Puerto Rico apostille services and for assistance obtaining official copies of Puerto Rico documents, see: [Puerto Rico Apostille Services](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-Legalization-Services) ### How long does it take to obtain an apostille on a document in Puerto Rico? Puerto Rican Apostille Stamps can normally be obtained from the Department of State in **3 business days** (PUERTO RICO: Puerto Rican apostilles can normally be obtained in 3 business days NOTE: All processing times are estimated. Actual processing time is dependant on the authentication authority and is subject to change without prior notice.) (expedited service). ### Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Puerto Rico Attestation and Apostille Services? You can see reviews from past clients who have used Isarey's attestation and apostille services: - [ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/isarey-document-attestation.com) - [ISAREY reviews on Google](https://goo.gl/maps/cuvbEYN25Xg5b8jg7) ### What is a Puerto Rico Apostille Stamp and why would I need one? A Puerto Rico Apostille is a certificate that is affixed to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Puerto Rico and confirms the capacity of that official. Puerto Rico Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Puerto Rico document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in Puerto Rico (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the [Hague Apostille Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_Convention) For more information on Apostilles, see: [The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)](https://assets.hcch.net/upload/abc12e.pdf) ### What is document legalization in Puerto Rico? Document legalization (or attestation) is a procedure which authenticates a public Puerto Rico document so that it can be submitted in another country for official or legal purposes - for example, if you need to submit a Puerto Rico birth certificate to the authority or embassy of another country, it will often need to be legalized. Legalizing a document in Puerto Rico certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized public official in Puerto Rico and confirms the capacity of that official. - Because Puerto Rico is a member of the Apostille Convention, Puerto Rico documents can be legalized by means of an Apostille Stamp when being submitted to countries that are also members of the [Hague Apostille Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_Convention) - If a Puerto Rico document is required for a country that is not a member of the Apostille Convention, it will need to be legalized both by Puerto Rico authorities and by the embassy of the recipient country (embassy in Puerto Rico or non-resident embassy accredited to Puerto Rico). See: [Document legalization - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_legalization) ### What services does Isarey Certification Services provide in Puerto Rico? Isarey Certification Services provides a range of services in Puerto Rico including Apostille and legalization services, notarization services, certified translation services and document retrieval services. ## Birth, death and marriage certificates ### How can I obtain an apostille for a Puerto Rico birth, death or marriage certificate? Apostilles to authenticate Puerto Rico birth, death and marriage certificates can be obtained by submitting the original certificate to the Department of State in San Juan. Only certificates issued from July 2010 are valid for an Apostille. ## Criminal record certificates ### How can I obtain my Puerto Rico Criminal Record Certificate to use abroad? A Puerto Rico Criminal Record Certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales) can be requested online: [Apply for a Puerto Rico Criminal Record Certificate](https://www.pr.gov/antecedentes-penales) Puerto Rican background checks only confirm a clean criminal record with the Puerto Rico Police Department. For a Federal background check, see: [FBI Background Checks](https://www.isarey-document-attestation.com/Puerto-Rico-attest-background-checks) Isarey can also obtain Puerto Rican penal record certificates for clients in need of an Apostille Stamp. ## Academic documents ### How can I obtain an apostille for my Puerto Rico University Degree and Transcripts? Apostilles to authenticate Puerto Rico university diplomas and transcripts can be obtained from the Puerto Rico Department of State.