Illinois Apostille

Illinois Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in Illinois, for $2 per Apostille or Certificate. 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.

Illinois 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 Illinois

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in Illinois come from Illinois Secretary of State (Index Department). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $2 per Apostille or Certificate. (source)
  • Certificate of Authority (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $2 per Certificate. (source)

How to send a request

  • By mail: mail the Application for Authentication request with the original documents (source)
  • In person (Chicago): Chicago office and select DMV+ locations; usually processed while you wait, first come, first served (source)
  • Request form: Application for Authentication request

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Mailed requests take 7 to 14 business days. (source)
  • In person, documents are usually processed while you wait. (source)

What Illinois needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • A birth certificate must be a certified copy from the county clerk, local registrar or Illinois Department of Public Health. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • For a divorce decree, get a certified copy from the circuit clerk of the court where the divorce was granted. (source)
  • Do not notarize documents signed by a circuit clerk or circuit judge, such as divorce decrees or legal name changes. (source)
  • The document must carry the official's seal and signature, printed name and title. (source)

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

  • Send the original document notarized by an Illinois notary public. (source)

School diploma or transcript

  • The school records official certifies and signs the record in front of a notary, who notarizes that statement. (source)

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

  • Some documents must be certified by the official who has custody of the original or by the office that filed it. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

For a country outside the Apostille Convention, Illinois Secretary of State issues its Certificate of Authority 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

  • Copies (all documents must be originals) and documents signed by out-of-state officials. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to Illinois 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 Illinois?

Illinois Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in Illinois. The fee is $2 per Apostille or Certificate. Requests can be mailed. 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 Illinois?

A birth certificate must be a certified copy from the county clerk, local registrar or Illinois Department of Public Health. Then send it to Illinois Secretary of State with the $2 fee.

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

Send the original document notarized by an Illinois notary public.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

Illinois Secretary of State issues its certificate of authority 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

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

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