How to get an apostille: who issues it and what states charge (2026)
An apostille certifies a US public document so it can be used in another country. Who issues it depends on who issued your document: your state for state documents, and the U.S. Department of State for federal ones. This page uses only official government pages.
Not legal advice. This page is general information. Whoever asked for your document decides what they'll accept, so ask them which certification they need. Errand Desk isn't affiliated with the U.S. Department of State, any state office or any other government agency.
Who issues an apostille or authentication? Comparison by document
From the U.S. Department of State's authentication pages [1][2][3].
| Your document | Country in the Hague Convention | Country not in the Hague Convention |
|---|---|---|
| State-issued (birth, marriage or death certificate, divorce decree, diploma, notarized document, police record) | Get it certified by the state that issued it. No federal apostille needed [2]. | Get it authenticated by the state first, then send it to the U.S. Department of State with Form DS-4194 [3]. |
| Federal (FBI background check, naturalization certificate, IRS tax residency certification, other federal documents) | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State [2]. | Authentication certificate from the U.S. Department of State [2][3]. |
What is an apostille, and what does it certify?
"Countries that are in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty may require an apostille certificate" [2]. "Countries not in the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty require authentication certificates to prove your documents are valid" [3]. Either way, the certificate is about the official, not your document's contents: "Authentication acknowledges the seal and signature of the official and not the document itself" [3].
How do I get an apostille on a birth certificate or other state document?
Send it to the state that issued it, such as the secretary of state, the lieutenant governor or another authority [3]. The U.S. Department of State says that for a Hague Convention country, "Get your document certified by the state who issued it ... You do not need an apostille certificate" [2]. The state table below links each state's official page and the fee it lists.
State pages often set extra steps. Some examples from the pages we checked: New York says vital records issued by a local or county official must first be certified by the County Clerk [37]. New Hampshire won't apostille a vital record that isn't submitted in the proper form [34]. Check your state's page before you mail anything.
How do I get an apostille on an FBI background check or other federal document?
The U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications handles documents signed by a federal official, such as FBI background checks, DHS naturalization certificates, IRS tax residency certifications and USPTO documents [2]. "Do not notarize your original document. Your document will no longer be valid if it is notarized" [2].
- Fee: "A $20 nonrefundable fee for each document" [4].
- Form: DS-4194 [4].
- By mail: "We will process it within 5 weeks from the day we receive it." Pay by "check or money order made out to the U.S. Department of State." Mail to Office of Authentications, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206 [4].
- Walk-in, if you travel in 2-3 weeks: processed within 7 business days, at 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Thursday. In person, pay by credit or debit card or contactless payment; cash, checks and money orders aren't accepted [4].
- Family emergency, traveling within 2 weeks: same-day appointment [4].
What if the country isn't in the Hague Convention?
You need an authentication certificate instead of an apostille. For a state document, "Get your document authenticated by the state who issued it" first, then submit it to the U.S. Department of State with Form DS-4194 and the $20 per-document fee [3][4]. Whether the destination country needs anything after that is not stated on the federal pages we used, so ask whoever requested the document.
How much does an apostille cost in each state?
Fees as each official state page lists them, checked Oct 27, 2026. We list a fee only where the page states one, which was 43 of the 51 (50 states and DC). For the other 8, "See official page" means we couldn't confirm a fee there, not that the service isn't offered. Many states also charge for expedited or in-person service, so read the linked page.
| State | Office | Fee, as the official page states it |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Secretary of State | $5 per document [5] |
| Alaska | Office of the Lieutenant Governor | $5 per certificate [6] |
| Arizona | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [7] |
| Arkansas | Secretary of State | $10 per document [8] |
| California | Secretary of State | $20 per apostille [9] |
| Colorado | Secretary of State | $5 routine, $15 expedited, per document [10] |
| Connecticut | Secretary of the State | See official page. No fee stated on the page we checked. [11] |
| Delaware | Division of Corporations | $30 for personal-use documents presented together; $30 per document for commercial [12] |
| District of Columbia | Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia | $15 per document [13] |
| Florida | Department of State, Division of Corporations | $10 per document ($20 if clerk-certified) [14] |
| Georgia | Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority | $3 per document [15] |
| Hawaii | Office of the Lieutenant Governor | $3 [16] |
| Idaho | Secretary of State | $10 per document [17] |
| Illinois | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [18] |
| Indiana | Secretary of State | $2 per authentication [19] |
| Iowa | Secretary of State | See official page. No fee stated on the page we checked. [20] |
| Kansas | Secretary of State | $10 per document [21] |
| Kentucky | Secretary of State | $5 per document [22] |
| Louisiana | Secretary of State | $20 per document ($10 adoption) [23] |
| Maine | Secretary of State | $10 per certification [24] |
| Maryland | Secretary of State | $5 per document [25] |
| Massachusetts | Secretary of the Commonwealth | $6 per document [26] |
| Michigan | Department of State | $1 per document [27] |
| Minnesota | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [28] |
| Mississippi | Secretary of State | $5 per document [29] |
| Missouri | Secretary of State | $10 per certification [30] |
| Montana | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [31] |
| Nebraska | Secretary of State | $10 per document/notarization [32] |
| Nevada | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [33] |
| New Hampshire | Secretary of State | $10 per document [34] |
| New Jersey | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services | $25 per certificate ($5 adoption) [35] |
| New Mexico | Secretary of State | $3 per document [36] |
| New York | Department of State | $10 per document [37] |
| North Carolina | Secretary of State | $10 per original document [38] |
| North Dakota | Secretary of State | $10 per authentication plus $5 per record search [39] |
| Ohio | Secretary of State | See official page. The page didn't load for us on Oct 27, 2026, so the fee isn't verified. [40] |
| Oklahoma | Secretary of State | $25 per apostille ($10 adoption) [41] |
| Oregon | Secretary of State | $10 per apostille [42] |
| Pennsylvania | Department of State | $15 per document [43] |
| Rhode Island | Secretary of State | $5 per document [44] |
| South Carolina | Secretary of State | $5 per document [45] |
| South Dakota | Secretary of State | $25 per document [46] |
| Tennessee | Secretary of State | $2 per document [47] |
| Texas | Secretary of State | $15 per apostille ($10 adoption) [48] |
| Utah | Office of the Lieutenant Governor | $20 in person same day; $5 by mail [49] |
| Vermont | Secretary of State | $10 per apostille/authentication [50] |
| Virginia | Secretary of the Commonwealth | $10 per document [51] |
| Washington | Secretary of State | $15 per apostille [52] |
| West Virginia | Secretary of State | $10 per certification ($5 for additional by same official) [53] |
| Wisconsin | Department of Financial Institutions | $10 per document ($35 expedited) [54] |
| Wyoming | Secretary of State | $20 [55] |
What to check before you send anything
- Ask which certification the recipient wants, and confirm the destination country. Hague and non-Hague countries need different certificates [2][3].
- Match the office to the document. State documents go to the state that issued them, and federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State [2][3].
- Don't notarize a federal original [2]. For state documents that need a notary first, see our notary guide.
- Keep copies. See our photocopy guide, and the shipping guide for tracked mail.
FAQ
Do I need the U.S. Department of State to apostille my birth certificate?
Not for a Hague Convention country. Get it certified by the state that issued it. The U.S. Department of State says, "You do not need an apostille certificate" [2].
How much does a federal apostille cost?
The U.S. Department of State charges a $20 nonrefundable fee for each document [4].
How long does a federal apostille take by mail?
The U.S. Department of State says it will process a mailed request within 5 weeks from the day it receives it [4].
What is the difference between an apostille and an authentication?
An apostille is for countries in the 1961 Hague Convention. An authentication certificate is for countries outside it, and a state document then also goes to the U.S. Department of State [2][3].
Does an apostille prove my document is true?
No. "Authentication does not verify the contents of a document." It acknowledges the official's seal and signature [3].
Related guides
- Where to get something notarized, and what it costs: banks, credit unions, libraries, AAA, The UPS Store and online notary, plus state fee limits.
- Notarize and copy in one trip: which places notarize, copy and ship in the same visit, and what to bring.
- US passport application checklist: what to bring, fees, forms and photocopy rules from the State Department.
- Where to make photocopies: per-page copy prices at Staples, FedEx Office, The UPS Store, CVS and public libraries.
- How to ship a package: USPS retail prices, UPS and FedEx rate tools, what to bring, drop-off vs pickup and tracking.
- All guides
Sources
All sources last checked Oct 27, 2026. Sources 1-4 are U.S. Department of State pages, with their own "Last Updated" dates. Sources 5-55 are official state government pages.
- U.S. Department of State, authenticate documents page (Last Updated June 15, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/replace-certify/authenticate-documents.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, apostille certificate page (Last Updated June 16, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/replace-certify/authenticate-documents/apostille-certificate.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, authentication certificate page (Last Updated June 16, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/replace-certify/authenticate-documents/authentication-certification.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, request services page (Last Updated October 01, 2026): travel.state.gov/en/replace-certify/authenticate-documents/request-services.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Alabama, Secretary of State: sos.alabama.gov/administrative-services/authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Alaska, Office of the Lieutenant Governor: ltgov.alaska.gov/notaries-public/authentications-and-apostilles (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Arizona, Secretary of State: azsos.gov/business/authentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Arkansas, Secretary of State: sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/bcs/Apostille-brochure-web2025.pdf (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- California, Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Colorado, Secretary of State: coloradosos.gov/pubs/info_center/fees/business.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Connecticut, Secretary of the State: portal.ct.gov/sots/legislative-services/authentication-of-documents-and-the-apostille (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Delaware, Division of Corporations: corp.delaware.gov/submitting-non-commercial-documents-for-apostille-or-authentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia: os.dc.gov/service/authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Florida, Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Georgia, Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority: gsccca.org/notary-and-apostilles/apostilles/general-apostille-information (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Hawaii, Office of the Lieutenant Governor: ltgov.hawaii.gov/featured/instruction-for-apostille-certification (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Idaho, Secretary of State: sos.idaho.gov/apostille (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Illinois, Secretary of State: ilsos.gov/departments/index/apostilles.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Indiana, Secretary of State: in.gov/sos/business/apostilleauthentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Iowa, Secretary of State: sos.iowa.gov/notaries/apostilles-and-certifications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Kansas, Secretary of State: sos.ks.gov/general-services/apostilles-authentications.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Kentucky, Secretary of State: sos.ky.gov/bus/apostilles/Pages/default.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Louisiana, Secretary of State: sos.la.gov/certifications/apostilles-authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Maine, Secretary of State: maine.gov/sos/corporations-commissions/authentications-and-apostilles (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Maryland, Secretary of State: sos.maryland.gov/Certifications/Pages/default.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth: sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commissions/apostilles.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Michigan, Department of State: michigan.gov/sos/all-services/document-authentication-and-apostille (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Minnesota, Secretary of State: sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille/apostille-authentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Mississippi, Secretary of State: sos.ms.gov/regulation-enforcement/notaries-apostilles/apostilles-authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Missouri, Secretary of State: sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/notary/certify (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Montana, Secretary of State: sosmt.gov/apostilles-authentications/apostilles (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Nebraska, Secretary of State: sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/apostilles-and-authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Nevada, Secretary of State: nvsos.gov/businesses/apostille (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- New Hampshire, Secretary of State: sos.nh.gov/apostilles-and-certificates (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- New Jersey, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services: nj.gov/treasury/revenue/fees.shtml (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- New Mexico, Secretary of State: sos.nm.gov/notary-and-apostille/apostille-authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- New York, Department of State: dos.ny.gov/apostille-certificate-authentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- North Carolina, Secretary of State: sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_authentications (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- North Dakota, Secretary of State: sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille/apostille-and-certification (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Ohio, Secretary of State: ohiosos.gov/records/apostilles-certifications/frequently-asked-questions (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Oklahoma, Secretary of State: sos.ok.gov/business/apostilles.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Oregon, Secretary of State: sos.oregon.gov/business/pages/how-to-get-authentication-apostille.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Pennsylvania, Department of State: pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/document-certification (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Rhode Island, Secretary of State: sos.ri.gov/Divisions/NotaryPublic/Apostilles/GetApostille/SubmissionProcess (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- South Carolina, Secretary of State: sos.sc.gov/services-and-filings/apostilles (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- South Dakota, Secretary of State: sdsos.gov/general-information/filing-fees.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Tennessee, Secretary of State: sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/sos/bus_svc/apostilles.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Texas, Secretary of State: sos.texas.gov/authfaqs.shtml (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Utah, Office of the Lieutenant Governor: authentications.utah.gov/process-from-home-page (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Vermont, Secretary of State: sos.vermont.gov/secretary-of-state-services/apostille-or-authentication (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Virginia, Secretary of the Commonwealth: commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/authentications/how-to-submit (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Washington, Secretary of State: sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/fee-schedules-priority-services (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- West Virginia, Secretary of State: sos.wv.gov/business/apostilles-and-authentications/authentication-documents-international-use (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Wisconsin, Department of Financial Institutions: dfi.wi.gov/Pages/ConsumerServices/ApostilleServices/Fees.aspx (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Wyoming, Secretary of State: sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=AUTH (last checked Oct 27, 2026)