Documents issued or notarized in Hawaii are apostilled by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor (Apostilles and Certifications) (Office of the Lieutenant Governor (the Lt. Governor serves as Secretary of State)). The office authenticates the signatures of Hawaii public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Hawaii-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues apostilles for Hague members and certifications for non-Hague countries.
Where to file
| Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State Capitol, 5th Floor, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813 | |
| In person | State Capitol, 5th Floor, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813 (walk-in counter or drop box) Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; no appointment required; no same-day service (documents enter the normal queue). Capitol garage entrance on Miller St. |
| Online | Online portal (launched Nov 2025, built by Tyler Technologies) at hi.accessgov.com/apostille (also linked as apostille.ehawaii.gov): complete the application, pay by card, track status. Portal generates a printable Application Document that must be mailed or dropped off with the original document. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/application-for-apostille-or-certification-of-documents |
How to get a Hawaii apostille
- Confirm the document is a Hawaii public document
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor (Apostilles and Certifications) authenticates signatures of Hawaii officials and Hawaii-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Obtain county certification where required
Not county clerk but Circuit Court: after a Hawaii notary notarizes a private document, the notary's signature must be certified by the Legal Documents Office of the Circuit Court where the notary is registered (First Circuit Honolulu 777 Punchbowl St.; Second Circuit Wailuku; Third Circuit Hilo; Fifth Circuit Lihue) before the Lt. Governor will apostille it.
- 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 — Online portal (launched Nov 2025, built by Tyler Technologies) at hi.accessgov.com/apostille (also linked as apostille.ehawaii.gov): complete the application, pay by card, track status. Portal generates a printable Application Document that must be mailed or dropped off with the original document.; by mail to Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State Capitol, 5th Floor, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813; in person at State Capitol, 5th Floor, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813 (walk-in counter or drop box) (Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; no appointment required; no same-day service (documents enter the normal queue). Capitol garage entrance on Miller St.). The fee is $3 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: 7-10 business days. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $3 per document. Fee rose from $1 to $3 per document in July 2025. Pay by card online, or by money order, cash, or cashier's check with the documents. If prepaid online, do not send a second payment.
Processing time: 7-10 business days
Documents Hawaii will apostille
- Notarized private documents (powers of attorney, affidavits, educational records) after Circuit Court certification
- Vital records with State Registrar signature and DOH embossed seal
- Court orders, driving records, Bureau of Conveyances records, professional licenses bearing a state seal and custodian signature
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Pre-2025 vital records (must be reordered)
- Documents lacking a state seal or custodian signature (call first)
- Applications that appear to conflict with law or be for improper use (office may deny)
Notarized documents
Document must be notarized by a Hawaii notary public; if the original cannot be notarized, a notary may notarize a copy (confirm the destination country accepts copies). Notary signature then requires Circuit Court certification.
County certification required. Not county clerk but Circuit Court: after a Hawaii notary notarizes a private document, the notary's signature must be certified by the Legal Documents Office of the Circuit Court where the notary is registered (First Circuit Honolulu 777 Punchbowl St.; Second Circuit Wailuku; Third Circuit Hilo; Fifth Circuit Lihue) before the Lt. Governor will apostille it.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Birth/death/marriage certificates issued on or after Jan 1, 2025 bearing the State Registrar's signature and embossed Department of Health seal can be sent directly. Older certificates must be reordered from the Department of Health Vital Records apostille program, which forwards the new certificate to the Lt. Governor and returns it to you.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Hawaii-specific points
- Lowest fee in this batch: $3 per document, and that is after tripling from $1 in July 2025
- Online portal does not replace mailing: the printed portal application must accompany the physical document
- Notarized documents need a two-step pre-certification (Hawaii notary, then Circuit Court Legal Documents Office)
- Vital records issued before 2025 cannot be apostilled as-is; reorder through the DOH apostille program
- Return by USPS to the application address unless you include a prepaid envelope or choose pickup
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Hawaii does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii?
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor (Apostilles and Certifications) charges $3 per document. Fee rose from $1 to $3 per document in July 2025. Pay by card online, or by money order, cash, or cashier’s check with the documents. If prepaid online, do not send a second payment.
How long does a Hawaii apostille take?
7-10 business days
Can I get an apostille in person in Hawaii?
Yes. Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; no appointment required; no same-day service (documents enter the normal queue). Capitol garage entrance on Miller St.
Does Hawaii require county clerk certification before an apostille?
Not county clerk but Circuit Court: after a Hawaii notary notarizes a private document, the notary’s signature must be certified by the Legal Documents Office of the Circuit Court where the notary is registered (First Circuit Honolulu 777 Punchbowl St.; Second Circuit Wailuku; Third Circuit Hilo; Fifth Circuit Lihue) before the Lt. Governor will apostille it.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Hawaii resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Hawaii. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
