Montana Apostille

Montana Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in Montana, for $10 per document or notarization, regardless of pages (charged per notarization when different notaries signed). 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.

Montana 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 Montana

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in Montana come from Montana Secretary of State (Notary & Certifications Division). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $10 per document or notarization, regardless of pages (charged per notarization when different notaries signed). (source)
  • Montana issues one certificate for every country, in or outside the Apostille Convention.

How to send a request

  • By mail (Helena): mail the original certified or notarized documents with the request form and a check or money order (or pay online first); include a prepaid return envelope or label (source)
  • In person (Helena): drop-off of pre-checked documents at the State Capitol, or same-day walk-in service by appointment made in advance after a pre-check (406-444-1877) (source)
  • Online: submit the order and pay by card through the online portal; the documents still go by mail or in person (electronically notarized printouts may be submitted electronically) (source)
  • Request form: Certification Request Form for Apostilles and Authentications
  • The request must name the country where the document will be used.

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Normal processing is 3 to 5 business days from receipt. (source)
  • Expedited processing is not available. (source)

What Montana needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • Get a certified copy from the county Clerk & Recorder, the Clerk of District Court or the Montana Office of Vital Records. (source)
  • The office recommends a certified copy issued within the last five years; older copies are often rejected abroad. (source)
  • When ordering from the Office of Vital Records, tell them the document is to be forwarded to the Secretary of State's office. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • Get a certified copy from the Clerk of District Court in the county where the marriage, divorce or other court action occurred. (source)

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

  • Make sure the notarial certificate has the venue, the statement of particulars, the notary's signature and stamp; a signature and stamp alone is rejected. (source)
  • You can email a scan for a free pre-check before sending the original. (source)

School diploma or transcript

  • Copies of diplomas and similar private documents must be properly notarized; improperly notarized copies are often rejected by the receiving country. (source)

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

  • For business records filed with the Secretary of State, download certified copies from the online filing portal and email them in with the apostille request. (source)
  • For a state criminal background check, tell the Montana Department of Justice the record must be notarized and sent to the Secretary of State's office. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

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

  • For a country outside the Hague Convention, expect further certification by the U.S. Department of State, the country's embassy, or both. (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

  • Records issued by another state or by U.S. federal courts or agencies. (source)
  • Documents for use within the United States, its territories or by federally recognized tribes. (source)
  • FBI background checks. (source)
  • Federal agency documents go to the U.S. Department of State, and federal court documents to the federal court that issued them. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

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

Montana Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in Montana. The fee is $10 per document or notarization, regardless of pages (charged per notarization when different notaries signed). Requests can be mailed to the office in Helena. 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 Montana?

Get a certified copy from the county Clerk & Recorder, the Clerk of District Court or the Montana Office of Vital Records. The office recommends a certified copy issued within the last five years; older copies are often rejected abroad. When ordering from the Office of Vital Records, tell them the document is to be forwarded to the Secretary of State's office. Then send it to Montana Secretary of State with the $10 fee, naming the destination country.

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

Make sure the notarial certificate has the venue, the statement of particulars, the notary's signature and stamp; a signature and stamp alone is rejected. You can email a scan for a free pre-check before sending the original.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

Montana 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

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

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