What Is an Apostille and Who Issues It in the U.S.?
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure.
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the signature or seal on a public document so it's accepted in countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Countries outside the convention use an authentication certificate and usually embassy legalization instead.
Who issues it
- State documents (birth and marriage certificates, notarized documents, state court records, state-issued diplomas and transcripts via a notary): the Secretary of State (or equivalent) of the state where the document was issued or notarized.
- Federal documents (FBI background checks, federal agency documents, documents signed by federal officials): the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Use Form DS-4194, $20 per document (State Dept: Requesting Authentication Services; DS-4194).
State fees at a glance (per document, verified on official sites)
| State | Fee | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| California | $20 | CA |
| Texas | $15 | TX |
| Florida | $10 | FL |
| New York | $10 (+ county clerk step) | NY |
| Illinois | $2 | IL |
| Pennsylvania | $15 | PA |
| Ohio | $5 | OH |
| North Carolina | $10 | NC |
| Georgia | $3 | GA |
| Federal (U.S. DOS) | $20 | FBI check |
Rather not do it yourself?
Apostille services handle notarization, county steps and state filing for a fee: apostille service. If your document first needs notarizing, online options: Notarize · OneNotary · NotaryLive.
Confirm with the receiving country whether it needs an apostille or an authentication certificate. Non-Hague countries need authentication instead. See what is an apostille.
Related guides
- California Apostille: Fees, Addresses and Steps (2026)
- Florida Apostille: $10 Fee, Mail Address and Vital Records Rules
- Georgia Apostille: $3 via GSCCCA
- How to Apostille an FBI Background Check
- Illinois Apostille: $2 Fee, Chicago Office and Mail Steps
- New York Apostille: County Clerk Step, Fees and Addresses