You’ve booked your trip, packed your bags, and gotten your passport ready. But before you leave the country, there’s one minor but very important thing you need to do: get an apostille stamp. More info about this page!

It may sound like something out of a spy movie, but it’s very real and very important. If you’re going to a Hague Convention country with documents like a birth certificate, degree, or marriage license, such papers need to be formally recognized. An apostille is an international certificate that shows your documents are real.

For example, look at Clara. She had a job in Spain, a signed contract, and an apartment ready for her. But when it was time for her visa to be processed, the Spanish government asked for an apostilled copy of her graduation. She didn’t even know what that meant. What happened? A paperwork panic that cost her rush fees, kept her up at night, and almost cost her her new job.

An apostille shows foreign governments that the relevant authority in your home country has verified your document. That degree might as well be printed on a napkin if it doesn’t have it. And no, “certified” and “notarized” are not the same. Immigration inspectors will send you back to square one.

It’s not hard to get an apostille, but it does take time. Some offices are hard to find since they are in strange buildings, the paperwork can be hard to understand, and the processing times are different. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan ahead. Check the requirements for your documents before you zip up your suitcase.

Stay away from hazardous internet shortcuts. Stick with services you know you can trust or your Secretary of State’s office. Check everything twice and get started early, especially when travel is busy.

That little stamp could mean the difference between getting through customs quickly or having your dream trip fall apart. So make sure your documentation is ready to go before you leave.