South Carolina Apostille

South Carolina Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in South Carolina, for $5 per document (not per page). 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.

South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in South Carolina come from South Carolina Secretary of State (Authentications Office). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $5 per document (not per page). (source)
  • Authentication certificate (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $5 per document (one fee for apostilles and authentications). (source)

How to send a request

  • By mail (Columbia): mail (or send by UPS or FedEx) the cover letter, the documents, the fee and a self-addressed stamped return envelope to the Secretary of State, Attn: Authentications (source)
  • In person (Columbia): hand-deliver between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; the cover letter also offers pick-up, which needs a daytime phone number and email address (source)
  • Request form: South Carolina Authentication Cover Letter (revised July 2026)
  • The request must name the country where the document will be used.
  • A document in a foreign language must come with an English translation signed by the translator, with the translator's signature notarized. (source)

What South Carolina needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • Get a certified copy from the issuing agency; photocopies are not accepted. (source)
  • Birth and death certificates come only from the DHEC Vital Records Division. (source)
  • Marriage licenses can come from the county Probate Court or DHEC Vital Records. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • Get a certified copy of a divorce decree from the County Clerk of Court's Office or DHEC Vital Records. (source)
  • A certified county copy must carry the original signature of the elected official of that office or an authorized deputy or staff member; otherwise the signature must be notarized. (source)

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

  • Have it notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary with a complete notarial certificate stating the facts attested; no county step is named. (source)

School diploma or transcript

  • Have a school official sign the transcript, report card or letter and have that signature notarized. (source)

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

  • A SLED, sheriff or police record check must be signed by an official of that office and the signature notarized; a record check printed from the Internet cannot be authenticated. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

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

  • For a country outside the Apostille Convention, the state certification is not enough: the document must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. (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

  • Photocopies of vital records. (source)
  • Record checks obtained from the Internet. (source)
  • Documents that appear contrary to state or federal law, interest or policy. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to South Carolina 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 South Carolina?

South Carolina Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in South Carolina. The fee is $5 per document (not per page). Requests can be mailed to the office in Columbia. 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 South Carolina?

Get a certified copy from the issuing agency; photocopies are not accepted. Birth and death certificates come only from the DHEC Vital Records Division. Marriage licenses can come from the county Probate Court or DHEC Vital Records. Then send it to South Carolina Secretary of State with the $5 fee, naming the destination country.

Does a document notarized in South Carolina need a county clerk certification first?

Have it notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary with a complete notarial certificate stating the facts attested; no county step is named.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

South Carolina Secretary of State issues its authentication certificate 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

South Carolina office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool:

Share: