Documents issued or notarized in Connecticut are apostilled by the Authentications and Apostilles Unit, Office of the Secretary of the State (Connecticut Secretary of the State). The office authenticates the signatures of Connecticut public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Connecticut-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Since July 21, 2025 issues a single authentication certificate for all requests; serves as an apostille for Hague countries and an authentication for others.
Where to file
| USPS: Connecticut Secretary of the State, Attn: Authentications, P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470; courier/hand delivery: 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106 | |
| In person | 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106 Hand delivery accepted Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:00 pm; expedited service is not available while you wait |
| Online | All orders must be created online at https://sots.service.ct.gov/apostille (paper order forms no longer accepted); documents are then mailed with the order receipt or APO work order number |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://portal.ct.gov/sots/legislative-services/authentication-of-documents-and-the-apostille |
How to get a Connecticut apostille
- Confirm the document is a Connecticut public document
The Authentications and Apostilles Unit, Office of the Secretary of the State authenticates signatures of Connecticut officials and Connecticut-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 — All orders must be created online at https://sots.service.ct.gov/apostille (paper order forms no longer accepted); documents are then mailed with the order receipt or APO work order number; by mail to USPS: Connecticut Secretary of the State, Attn: Authentications, P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470; courier/hand delivery: 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106; in person at 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106 (Hand delivery accepted Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:00 pm; expedited service is not available while you wait). The fee is $40 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: 5-7 business days after receipt; e-apostille about one business day. Expedited: $90 per document, processed and mailed within 24 hours of receipt; not available for adoption documents; fee forfeited if document is rejected. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $40 per document. $40 regular; $15 child-adoption documents; $90 expedited. Same fee for e-apostille. Credit card online, check payable to Secretary of the State, cash in person only.
Processing time: 5-7 business days after receipt; e-apostille about one business day
Expedited: $90 per document, processed and mailed within 24 hours of receipt; not available for adoption documents; fee forfeited if document is rejected
Electronic apostilles: Connecticut issues e-apostilles. See the official page for which documents qualify and how electronic certificates are delivered; background in how e-apostilles work.
Documents Connecticut will apostille
- Documents notarized by a Connecticut notary public
- Documents certified by town clerks and local registrars of vital statistics
- Superior and Probate Court clerk certifications
- Documents signed by commissioners of Connecticut state agencies
- Justice of the peace acts
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Documents signed by an out-of-state notary
- Federal government documents
- Out-of-state vital records, court documents or school transcripts
- Documents signed by an attorney as Commissioner of Superior Court
- Documents for use in Puerto Rico, Guam, USVI, American Samoa or Northern Mariana Islands
Notarized documents
Must be notarized by a Connecticut notary or certified by a Connecticut official; notarization/certification must be dated within the last 10 years with an original signature and/or seal. Copies need a sworn true-copy statement signed before a Connecticut notary.
Connecticut does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Birth, death, marriage and adoption certificates require a traditional paper apostille (not eligible for e-apostille); certified copies come from the Town Clerk or the DPH Vital Records Unit; local registrars of vital statistics and town clerks are accepted signing officials.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Connecticut-specific points
- Began issuing e-Apostilles on July 6, 2026 (Public Act 26-81); the e-apostille is delivered electronically and is 'not valid if printed'.
- At $40 ($90 expedited) Connecticut is among the most expensive states; adoption documents are $15.
- Paper order forms are no longer accepted; every request starts in the online portal.
- Notarization or certification must be less than 10 years old.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Connecticut does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
The Authentications and Apostilles Unit, Office of the Secretary of the State charges $40 per document. $40 regular; $15 child-adoption documents; $90 expedited. Same fee for e-apostille. Credit card online, check payable to Secretary of the State, cash in person only.
How long does a Connecticut apostille take?
5-7 business days after receipt; e-apostille about one business day Expedited option: $90 per document, processed and mailed within 24 hours of receipt; not available for adoption documents; fee forfeited if document is rejected.
Can I get an apostille in person in Connecticut?
Yes. Hand delivery accepted Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:00 pm; expedited service is not available while you wait
Does Connecticut require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Authentications and Apostilles Unit, Office of the Secretary of the State provided the notary is commissioned in Connecticut and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Connecticut resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Connecticut. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
