Federal document
USDA Phytosanitary Certificate
How to apostille a USDA phytosanitary certificate for exporting plants and agricultural products.
- Issuing agency
- US Department of Agriculture / APHIS
- We can obtain it?
- No — you request it from the agency
- Certification first?
- No prior certification needed
- Also known as
- plant health certificate, APHIS certificate, PPQ 577
A USDA phytosanitary certificate (issued through APHIS) certifies that plants or plant products meet the importing country's health requirements. It is required for agricultural export, and often needs to be authenticated for the destination country.
Why it needs an apostille abroad
The apostille certifies the USDA document for Hague Convention countries; non-Hague destinations require embassy legalization.
How to get USDA Phytosanitary for use overseas
Obtaining the certificate
Phytosanitary certificates are issued by USDA/APHIS at the time of export inspection. Once issued, send it to us for authentication, with the destination country so we route apostille or legalization correctly.
Common uses
- Plant and seed export clearance.
- Agricultural commodity shipments.
USDA Phytosanitary apostille by country
Where the document is going decides the process. Hague Convention members accept an apostille; non-Hague countries need embassy legalization on top. Pick your destination:
Ready to start?
Tell us what you have and where it is going. We reply with the correct route, a flat quote and shipping instructions.