Documents issued or notarized in Arkansas are apostilled by the Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division (Arkansas Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of Arkansas public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Arkansas-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues Apostilles ($10) for Hague countries and Certifications ($5) for non-Hague countries; requester must pick one.
Where to file
| Arkansas Secretary of State, Business & Commercial Services, 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201 | |
| In person | Victory Building, 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201; also 300 N College, Suite 201F, Fayetteville, AR 72701 In-person delivery accepted at Little Rock and Fayetteville; hours not published on apostille page |
| Online | Request can be prepared online at https://bcs.sos.arkansas.gov/forms/new/9464, then documents are submitted physically; apostilles can be verified online at https://bcs.sos.arkansas.gov/apostille |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://sos.arkansas.gov/business-commercial-services-bcs/for-apostille-certification |
How to get a Arkansas apostille
- Confirm the document is a Arkansas public document
The Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division authenticates signatures of Arkansas officials and Arkansas-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Prepare the request
Complete the request form (official form), naming the destination country so the office issues an apostille (Hague country) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague country).
- Submit the document, fee and return envelope
Submit online — Request can be prepared online at https://bcs.sos.arkansas.gov/forms/new/9464, then documents are submitted physically; apostilles can be verified online at https://bcs.sos.arkansas.gov/apostille; by mail to Arkansas Secretary of State, Business & Commercial Services, 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201; in person at Victory Building, 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201; also 300 N College, Suite 201F, Fayetteville, AR 72701 (In-person delivery accepted at Little Rock and Fayetteville; hours not published on apostille page). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: 24-48 hours of receipt (stated goal). Expedited: No expedite fee; office processes everything within 24-48 hours. Express return requires a prepaid, pre-addressed air bill.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. Apostille $10; non-Hague Certification $5. Cash, check or money order payable to Arkansas Secretary of State; Visa/MasterCard/AmEx/Discover accepted by BCS with a 4% convenience fee.
Processing time: 24-48 hours of receipt (stated goal)
Expedited: No expedite fee; office processes everything within 24-48 hours. Express return requires a prepaid, pre-addressed air bill.
Documents Arkansas will apostille
- Birth, marriage and death certificates from Arkansas Vital Records
- Court documents
- Patents
- Notarial acts and acknowledgements of signatures
- Diplomas and transcripts
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Foreign-language documents without English translation
- Documents concerning immigration, citizenship or sovereignty
- Documents lacking a complete Arkansas notarization or an Arkansas elected official's seal/signature
- Documents issued by the U.S. Department of State / federal documents
- Notarized photocopies of vital records
Notarized documents
Must be notarized by an Arkansas notary public (or bear the seal and signature of an Arkansas elected official); each signature needs an acknowledgement statement; notary signature and seal must match exactly what is on file with the Secretary of State. Affidavit and acknowledgement templates are provided.
Arkansas does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Original or certified copy from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office required; a notary may not certify a photocopy of a vital record or public record, and a notarized photocopy of a birth certificate will not be authenticated.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Arkansas-specific points
- Apostille ($10) and Certification ($5) cost different amounts, which is unusual.
- 4% convenience fee on card payments.
- A Fayetteville satellite office accepts in-person apostille requests, not just Little Rock.
- Brochure states a 24-48 hour turnaround with no expedite fee.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Arkansas does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Arkansas resident is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — see the federal section. For destinations outside the Hague Convention, the Arkansas authentication certificate must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and legalized at the destination's embassy (how the chain works).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in Arkansas?
The Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division charges $10 per document. Apostille $10; non-Hague Certification $5. Cash, check or money order payable to Arkansas Secretary of State; Visa/MasterCard/AmEx/Discover accepted by BCS with a 4% convenience fee.
How long does a Arkansas apostille take?
24-48 hours of receipt (stated goal) Expedited option: No expedite fee; office processes everything within 24-48 hours. Express return requires a prepaid, pre-addressed air bill..
Can I get an apostille in person in Arkansas?
Yes. In-person delivery accepted at Little Rock and Fayetteville; hours not published on apostille page
Does Arkansas require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division provided the notary is commissioned in Arkansas and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Arkansas resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Arkansas. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
