Connecticut Apostille

Connecticut Secretary of the State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in Connecticut, for $40 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.

Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in Connecticut come from Connecticut Secretary of the State (Authentications and Apostilles). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $40 per document. (source)
  • certificate of authentication (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $40 per document. (source)
  • Fee when the apostille or authentication is for a child's adoption: $15 (source)

How to send a request

  • By mail (Hartford): after ordering online, mail the originals with the printed order receipt (or APO Work Order number) and a prepaid return envelope or label (source)
  • In person (Hartford): hand delivery to the Hartford office is listed as a delivery method after the online order; counter hours are not stated (source)
  • Online: every order must be placed in the online apostille system (CT.GOV account and login); eligible documents can be uploaded for an e-Apostille, vital records excluded (source)
  • Request form: Online Apostille Application (no paper form)

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Regular paper orders take 5 to 7 business days after the unit receives the documents. (source)
  • e-Apostille and expedited orders are processed within 24 hours of receipt. (source)
  • Connecticut began issuing e-Apostilles on July 6, 2026; vital records still need a paper apostille. (source)
  • Since July 21, 2025, Connecticut issues a single authentication certificate for all legalization requests. (source)
  • Every request must be placed through the online Apostille Application system. (source)
  • The office's public page does not show the fee; it is set by Conn. Gen. Stat. 3-99a(a) as amended by Public Act 26-81 (2026) and is the same for paper and e-Apostilles. Check the amount shown in the online application before paying. (source)

What Connecticut needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • Get a certified copy from your Town Clerk or the Department of Public Health Vital Records Unit. (source)
  • The copy must have been certified within the last 10 years and carry an original signature or seal. (source)
  • Vital records need a paper apostille; they cannot get an e-Apostille, so mail the original. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • Send a copy certified by a clerk or assistant clerk of the Superior or Probate Court. (source)

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

  • Have the document notarized by a Connecticut notary. (source)
  • The notarization must be within the last 10 years and include an original signature or seal. (source)

School diploma or transcript

Connecticut Secretary of the 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 an original or certified copy signed by a Connecticut state public official. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

For a country outside the Apostille Convention, Connecticut Secretary of the State issues its certificate of authentication instead of an apostille. Then:

  • For countries outside the Hague Convention you may need further legalization by the U.S. Department of State or the destination country's embassy. (source)
  • 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

  • Documents signed by an out-of-state notary. (source)
  • Out-of-state school transcripts; the state where the school is located must authenticate them. (source)
  • Documents signed by an attorney as a Commissioner of the Superior Court. (source)
  • Documents for use in a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico or Guam. (source)
  • Federal government documents go to the U.S. Department of State. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to Connecticut Secretary of the 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 Connecticut?

Connecticut Secretary of the State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in Connecticut. The fee is $40 per document. Requests can be mailed to the office in Hartford. The office also serves people in person; check its page for hours and any appointment rule before going. The office also takes requests online.

How do I apostille a birth certificate from Connecticut?

Get a certified copy from your Town Clerk or the Department of Public Health Vital Records Unit. The copy must have been certified within the last 10 years and carry an original signature or seal. Vital records need a paper apostille; they cannot get an e-Apostille, so mail the original. Then send it to Connecticut Secretary of the State with the $40 fee.

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

Have the document notarized by a Connecticut notary. The notarization must be within the last 10 years and include an original signature or seal.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

Connecticut Secretary of the 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

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

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