Government fees
State fees are set by statute. As of November 2026 the standard per-document fee ranges from $1 to $40:
- $5 or less: Michigan ($1), Illinois ($2), Indiana ($2), Tennessee ($2), Arizona ($3), Georgia ($3), Hawaii ($3), New Mexico ($3), Alabama ($5), Alaska ($5), Colorado ($5), Iowa ($5), Kentucky ($5), Maryland ($5), Minnesota ($5), Mississippi ($5), Ohio ($5), Rhode Island ($5), South Carolina ($5).
- $6–$15: Massachusetts ($6), Arkansas ($10), Florida ($10), Idaho ($10), Kansas ($10), Maine ($10), Missouri ($10), Montana ($10), Nebraska ($10), New Hampshire ($10), New York ($10), North Carolina ($10), North Dakota ($10), Oregon ($10), Vermont ($10), Virginia ($10), West Virginia ($10), Wisconsin ($10), District of Columbia ($15), Pennsylvania ($15), Texas ($15), Washington ($15).
- $20 or more: California ($20), Louisiana ($20), Nevada ($20), Utah ($20), Wyoming ($20), New Jersey ($25), Oklahoma ($25), South Dakota ($25), Delaware ($30), Connecticut ($40).
Some states charge different fees by document type (Florida, for example, charges $20 for clerk-of-court records because it attaches a certificate of incumbency) or waive fees for adoption documents.
The exact current fee, payment methods and any expedite surcharge are on each state page.
Federal fee: the U.S. Department of State charges $20 per document for both apostilles and authentication certificates.
Embassy legalization fees (non-Hague destinations only) are set by each embassy and typically run $30–$150 for personal documents and $150–$500+ for commercial documents.
What else goes into the total
| Cost item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of a vital record | $10–$35 | Required when the copy you hold is old, a hospital keepsake, or signed by a registrar no longer on file |
| Certified court record | $5–$25 | Plus per-page copy fees |
| Notarization | $0–$25 per signature, more for mobile or online notaries | Statutory maximums vary by state; online notarization commonly $25 |
| County clerk certification | $3–$10 | Only in states that require it (New York, Tennessee and a few others) |
| Courier shipping, each leg | $10–$40 domestic, $50–$120 international | Two legs minimum (to and from the office); more for non-Hague chains |
| Translation | $25–$90 per page for sworn translators abroad | Often the largest single item for multi-document files |
| Service fee (if used) | $75–$300 per document, more for rush | Covers handling, review and hand delivery |
A single notarized power of attorney apostilled in a $10 state and mailed domestically costs roughly $40–$70 if you do everything yourself. A three-document Italian citizenship file with fresh certified copies, apostilles and sworn translations typically lands between $250 and $600 without a service.
Expedite options
Several states sell expedited processing (New Jersey, Wisconsin, Washington and Connecticut among them), and walk-in counters in many capitals issue apostilles the same day for the standard fee — Arizona adds a $25 expedite charge for counter service and Washington $150. The federal office has no paid expedite; the only faster route is walk-in drop-off in Washington, D.C., which cuts the mailed timeline of up to five weeks to about a week.
When paying a service makes sense
- The document needs county certification in a county you cannot visit.
- The state requires in-person drop-off and you are elsewhere.
- You are abroad and need a U.S. notarization plus apostille.
- Federal documents on a visa deadline, where mailed processing takes weeks.
Service pricing is per document and should include the government fee, domestic return shipping and document review. For reference, a published breakdown of Florida apostille costs is published online, as is pricing for federal documents from a service that submits federal documents to the Office of Authentications on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free apostille?
A few states waive fees for specific documents (for example adoption-related documents in several states, or all documents in a small number of states). Most charge $5–$25.
Does the fee depend on the destination country?
Generally no — the same fee applies for an apostille or an authentication certificate. Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries is an additional cost.
Do I pay per page or per document?
Per document. A ten-page court order with one clerk certification is one apostille. A translation attached to a document is a separate document if it carries its own notarization.
Can I pay by credit card?
Many states accept cards in person or online; mailed requests often require a check or money order. The federal office accepts checks and money orders by mail and cards in person.
