Iowa Apostille

Iowa Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in Iowa, for $5 per apostille or certification. 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.

Iowa 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 Iowa

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in Iowa come from Iowa Secretary of State (Apostille and Certification Services). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $5 per apostille or certification. (source)
  • Iowa issues one certificate for every country, in or outside the Apostille Convention.

How to send a request

  • By mail (Des Moines): mail the request form and a copy of the document; certificates go back by USPS unless you include a prepaid label (source)
  • In person (Des Moines): same-day walk-in, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday to Friday, excluding observed holidays (source)
  • Online: upload the request form and scanned documents as one PDF through the Fast Track Filing System (account login); the certificate is mailed back (source)
  • Request form: Apostille or Certificate Request Form

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Walk-in service is same day. (source)
  • Uploaded requests are reviewed and issued in date order; no time is stated. (source)
  • If you mail documents, the office strongly recommends sending a copy and keeping the original. (source)
  • The Single Certificate is no longer printed on gold seal paper; it is still the legitimate certificate. (source)

What Iowa needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

Iowa 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)

Iowa 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)

  • The document must be signed by an Iowa notary; the certificate confirms the notary was commissioned on the date of signing. (source)

School diploma or transcript

Iowa 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)

  • The document must be signed by an Iowa notary or an Iowa elected official. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

Iowa issues one certificate for every country, in or outside the Apostille Convention.

  • 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 notaries or officials of other states. (source)
  • Federal documents, such as a federal background check, 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 Iowa 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 Iowa?

Iowa Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in Iowa. The fee is $5 per apostille or certification. Requests can be mailed to the office in Des Moines. 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 Iowa?

Iowa 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 Iowa need a county clerk certification first?

The document must be signed by an Iowa notary; the certificate confirms the notary was commissioned on the date of signing.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

Iowa issues one certificate for every destination, in or outside the Convention. For a country outside the Convention, send that certificate to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications (Form DS-4194, $20 per document), and then to the country's embassy or consulate for legalization.

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

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

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