Documents issued or notarized in Colorado are apostilled by the Authentications Program, Notary Program (Colorado Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of Colorado public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Colorado-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Since April 2, 2018 issues one combined certificate that works as an apostille in Hague countries and an authentication elsewhere.
Where to file
| Colorado Secretary of State, Authentications, 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290 | |
| In person | 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290 Drop-off accepted; expedited walk-in service for documents hand-delivered before 4:30 PM, usually under an hour; parking downtown is paid and not validated |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/apostilles/home.html |
How to get a Colorado apostille
- Confirm the document is a Colorado public document
The Authentications Program, Notary Program authenticates signatures of Colorado officials and Colorado-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 by mail to Colorado Secretary of State, Authentications, 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290; in person at 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290 (Drop-off accepted; expedited walk-in service for documents hand-delivered before 4:30 PM, usually under an hour; parking downtown is paid and not validated). The fee is $5 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: not published; check the official site. Expedited: $15 per apostille, walk-in only, hand-delivered before 4:30 PM; generally under one hour. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $5 per document. $5 per apostille (mail or drop-off); $15 per apostille expedited (walk-in only). Cash, check or money order payable to Colorado Secretary of State; no credit or debit cards; do not mail cash.
Processing time: Not published by the office — check the official page for the current processing date.
Expedited: $15 per apostille, walk-in only, hand-delivered before 4:30 PM; generally under one hour
Documents Colorado will apostille
- Documents notarized by a Colorado notary public
- Colorado birth and death certificates certified by Vital Records
- Marriage licenses and court documents certified by a Colorado County Clerk
- School transcripts, powers of attorney, adoption dossiers
- Certified copies of business filings
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Documents notarized outside Colorado
- Photocopies and stamped signatures
- Documents with blanks
- Notary certifications that a person is alive
- Form I-9
- Notarized copies of records obtainable from Vital Records, courts or other listed offices
- Documents concerning citizenship relinquishment or renunciation
- Documents for use in the US or its territories
Notarized documents
Must be notarized by a Colorado notary public; notarial statement must be in English and name the state, county, and date; all blanks must be filled or crossed out; out-of-state notarizations are not accepted; stamped signatures rejected.
Colorado does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Certified copies of Colorado birth/death certificates from the Vital Records Office (CDPHE); marriage licenses, divorce decrees and court documents from the County Clerk and Recorder or Clerk of the District Court. A Colorado notary can make a certified copy of an out-of-state vital record.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Colorado-specific points
- Credit and debit cards are not accepted for apostilles even though the state takes cards for most other filings.
- Expedited $15 service is walk-in only and done while you wait (under an hour); mail cannot be expedited.
- Office will pre-review a PDF of your document by email before you submit it.
- Rejects 'proof of life' notarial certifications and warns that some notarized powers of attorney are unauthorized practice of law.
- Mail goes through a state distribution center before reaching the office, adding transit time.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Colorado does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Colorado 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 Colorado 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 Colorado?
The Authentications Program, Notary Program charges $5 per document. $5 per apostille (mail or drop-off); $15 per apostille expedited (walk-in only). Cash, check or money order payable to Colorado Secretary of State; no credit or debit cards; do not mail cash.
How long does a Colorado apostille take?
The office does not publish a standard turnaround; contact the office or check the official site for current processing dates. Expedited option: $15 per apostille, walk-in only, hand-delivered before 4:30 PM; generally under one hour.
Can I get an apostille in person in Colorado?
Yes. Drop-off accepted; expedited walk-in service for documents hand-delivered before 4:30 PM, usually under an hour; parking downtown is paid and not validated
Does Colorado require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Authentications Program, Notary Program provided the notary is commissioned in Colorado and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Colorado resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Colorado. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
