You want to live in another country, maybe drink wine in Spain or dance in Brazil. But then the paperwork comes in, and you’re suddenly immersed in jargon like “apostille,” “legalization,” and “authentication.” Does it sound scary? It doesn’t have to be hard or cost a lot. Click our extra resources for another topics!

Most people don’t know this, but you don’t have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to receive an apostille. Of course, internet firms would happily charge you more for “VIP processing” and other dazzling promises. But guess what? You can typically go straight to your state’s Secretary of State office without having to go through a middleman.

For real. Simply go to the appropriate government website, obtain the correct form, follow the directions, pay a little cost (typically less than $20), and send in your papers. No drama, no hidden costs, and no sales pitches.

But be careful: there are a lot of fake third-party sites that look like they’re official. Some of them cost as much as a cheap airfare. The hack? Stay on .gov sites. If you’re not sure, phone them personally. A five-minute phone call could save you a lot of money.

Also, don’t believe the “hurry or fail” myth. Most apostilles are done in a week or two, unless you’re really in a hurry. A buddy of mine spent $500 for an overnight service, but then found out that her state accomplished it for $15 in three days. That was an entire week of beach drinks wasted on mailing and worrying.

Extra tip: not every document needs an apostille. Some countries don’t require it, depending on what you’re using it for. Always look before you stamp.

A little forethought and study can save you a lot of money and stress in the end. Give away what you know. One less bureaucratic problem means you’re one step closer to your new journey.