How much does an apostille cost in the United States? Government fees, shipping and service costs

What may be included in the total cost

1. Government fee

Each state sets its own fee, while federal documents follow the federal fee schedule. The fee is usually charged per document or certification; it is not the complete service price.

2. Document procurement or certification

If you only have a photocopy, you may need a certified copy of the vital record, court record or corporate document. The issuing office charges this separately from the apostille.

3. Notarization or prior certifications

Private documents may require a notarized signature. Some court or notarial documents also need an additional certification before reaching the apostille authority.

4. Shipping and return delivery

Regular mail, tracked shipping, overnight courier and international return delivery have different costs and risk levels. Original documents usually justify tracking and appropriate insurance.

5. Professional coordination

A professional service may review the document, identify the correct authority, prepare the request, monitor processing and arrange return delivery. This fee should be clearly distinguished from official charges.

6. Urgency and complexity

Multiple states, mixed state and federal documents, translations or consular legalization add steps. Paying for overnight shipping does not require a government agency to process the request faster.

Official examples showing why prices vary

As of this update, Florida publishes a fee of $10 per document, or $20 for certain documents certified by a Clerk of Court. The U.S. Department of State publishes a $20 per-document fee for federal authentication services. California publishes $20 per apostille, with an additional handling charge for certain in-person requests. These are examples, not a quote; always check the competent authority because fees can change.

Send us a clear copy, the issuing state or authority, the destination country and your deadline. We can confirm the route and prepare a quote before you mail the original.

Four cases that do not cost the same

• A Florida birth certificate already issued in the correct version for a Hague Convention country.
• An FBI background check that must follow the federal route.
• A family file containing vital records from several states, each handled by its competent authority.
• A document for a non-Hague country that requires consular legalization after prior authentications.

How to avoid paying twice

1. First confirm the destination country and exact transaction with the receiving institution.
2. Verify that you have the correct original or certified copy before requesting an apostille.
3. Do not notarize a federal or state public record unless you have confirmed that notarization belongs in the correct route.
4. Send a scan for review before paying for courier service or mailing originals.
5. Compare quotes that separate official fees, shipping, translation and professional service fees.