How To Get an Apostille in the US

If you’re an American applying for citizenship or residency abroad, you may need to apostille certain vital documents. This process can be confusing since apostilles are rarely required for official business within the United States. This guide will explain what apostilles are, their importance, and how to obtain them.

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What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a form of additional authentication for official documents. Prior to the apostille convention of 1961, authenticating documents for use in a foreign country required signatures from multiple government bodies. Today, countries that are parties to the apostille convention only require documents to be apostilled to have legal effect abroad. An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and the capacity of the person who signed the public document, simplifying the process.

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Why You Might Need an Apostille

Apostilles are often required for citizenship by descent or investment applications, as well as other international legal processes. They are used to confirm that documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, FBI identity history summaries, and death certificates are genuine.

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Documents That Can Be Apostilled

Many types of vital records and official documents can be apostilled in the United States. For citizenship by descent and citizenship by investment cases, the following documents are commonly apostilled:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• FBI identity history summaries (background checks)
• Death certificates

Privately created documents, such as resumes, generally cannot be apostilled.

Tip: Do not detach the apostille from the underlying document, even for scanning, as many countries will no longer recognize the apostille as valid if separated.

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How to Get an Apostille

To obtain an apostille, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the Appropriate Government Entity

For most state-issued documents, the apostilling entity is the state’s secretary of state. For example, a California birth certificate would be apostilled by the California Secretary of State. For federal documents, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications is responsible.

Step 2: Gather Required Items

Most apostille requests in the United States require the following items:

• Original or certified copy of the document (e.g., birth certificate)
• Completed apostille application or cover letter
• Apostille fee (typically $2-$20, depending on the state)
• Stamped, self-addressed envelope

Step 3: Submit the Request

Send the gathered items to the appropriate government entity. Use Google to find the relevant agency’s website for specific instructions.

Tip: If you need the document apostilled quickly, check if the state agency allows walk-in requests or if you can submit an expedited return postage envelope.

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Example Addresses for Apostille Requests:

California Secretary of State:


California Secretary of State

Notary Public Section

P.O. Box 942877

Sacramento, CA 94277-0001



U.S. Department of State:


U.S. Department of State

Office of Authentications

600 19th Street NW

Washington, DC 20006