Arizona Apostille

Arizona Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in Arizona, for $3 per document. Pick the document and the country to see what it needs first and how to send it. This runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Arizona office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

This runs in your browser. Nothing you pick is sent, saved or added to the page address.

Pick the state where the document was issued, recorded or notarized, not the state you live in.

Choose who issued the document, the kind of document and the country to see the steps.

Who issues apostilles in Arizona

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in Arizona come from Arizona Secretary of State (Business Services, Apostille Dept.). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $3 per document. (source)
  • Certificate of Authentication (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $3 per document. (source)
  • Walk-in expedite fee (limit of 6 documents): $25 (source)
  • Notarial capacity certificate for documents going to Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory: $18 (source)

How to send a request

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Mailed requests take 10 to 20 business days. (source)
  • From November 2, 2026, walk-in service at Phoenix Business Services is not available without a scheduled appointment. (source)
  • Under the appointment-only rule, in-person service is not provided at the Executive Tower location in Phoenix. (source)

What Arizona needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

Arizona Secretary of State does not say on its page whether this kind of document needs a step first. Ask the office before you mail an original.

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

Arizona Secretary of State does not say on its page whether this kind of document needs a step first. Ask the office before you mail an original.

Notarized document (power of attorney, affidavit, consent letter, translation)

  • Send the original notarized document signed by an Arizona notary; a photocopy is not accepted. (source)

School diploma or transcript

Arizona Secretary of State does not say on its page whether this kind of document needs a step first. Ask the office before you mail an original.

Other state-issued document (business certificate, state background check)

  • Send only Arizona-issued documents; a document from another state must be certified by that state. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

For a country outside the Apostille Convention, Arizona Secretary of State issues its Certificate of Authentication instead of an apostille. Then:

  • For a country outside the Convention, send the state-certified document to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, with Form DS-4194 and the $20 fee per document. (source)

Last, the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the United States legalizes it; ask it about its own steps, fees and timing before you send anything.

What the office will not accept or handle

  • Photocopies. (source)
  • Documents recorded by another state; they are returned to you. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to Arizona Secretary of State.
  • It does not cover documents from another state or a federal agency; those go to their own office.
  • It does not list embassy legalization rules for countries outside the Convention.
  • It does not promise processing times; fees and forms change, so check the office's page before you send originals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get an apostille in Arizona?

Arizona Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in Arizona. The fee is $3 per document. Requests can be mailed to the office in Phoenix. The office also serves people in person; check its page for hours and any appointment rule before going.

How do I apostille a birth certificate from Arizona?

Arizona Secretary of State does not say on its page what a birth certificate needs before the apostille. Ask the office, or order a certified copy from the state vital records office, before mailing an original.

Does a document notarized in Arizona need a county clerk certification first?

Send the original notarized document signed by an Arizona notary; a photocopy is not accepted.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

Arizona Secretary of State issues its certificate of authentication instead of an apostille. Send it next to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications (Form DS-4194, $20 per document); the destination country's embassy or consulate then legalizes it.

How do I get an apostille for an FBI background check?

An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so a state office cannot apostille it. The U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications handles it: send Form DS-4194, the document and the $20 fee per document. The form asks for the country where the document will be used.

Do I need a paid apostille service?

No. Every office on this page accepts requests directly from the public by mail, and some take them online. A service can only file the same request with the same office for you.

Sources

Arizona office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

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