Documents issued or notarized in Maryland are apostilled by the Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk. The office authenticates the signatures of Maryland public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Maryland-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues apostilles for Hague countries and standard certifications for non-Hague countries, which then require U.S. Department of State authentication.
Where to file
| Office of the Secretary of State, Certification Desk, 16 Francis Street, 1st Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401 | |
| In person | 16 Francis Street, Wineland Building, Annapolis, MD 21401 Counter hours Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, but a current notice says walk-ins are NOT available; scheduled appointments via an Outlook booking link, limit 10 documents per customer per day and 2 family members per appointment. Office may switch to mail-only during construction starting around mid-October. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://sos.maryland.gov/Certifications/Pages/default.aspx |
How to get a Maryland apostille
- Confirm the document is a Maryland public document
The Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk authenticates signatures of Maryland officials and Maryland-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
Notarized documents must first be taken to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the notary was commissioned (shown on the notary seal) for certification of the notary ($1), then to the Secretary of State. If the certifying clerk is not the current Clerk, call 410-974-5521. State or county issued documents with the issuing department's seal and signature skip this step.
- 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 Office of the Secretary of State, Certification Desk, 16 Francis Street, 1st Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401; in person at 16 Francis Street, Wineland Building, Annapolis, MD 21401 (Counter hours Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, but a current notice says walk-ins are NOT available; scheduled appointments via an Outlook booking link, limit 10 documents per customer per day and 2 family members per appointment. Office may switch to mail-only during construction starting around mid-October.). The fee is $5 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: 7-14 business days for regular mail; 3-4 days when sent by FedEx, UPS, or USPS Priority Mail. Expedited: No formal expedite; sending via FedEx/UPS/USPS Priority with prepaid return yields 3-4 day turnaround.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $5 per document. By mail: U.S. check or money order payable to Secretary of State. In person: credit or debit card. Circuit Court clerk notary certification (when required) is an additional $1 paid to the clerk.
Processing time: 7-14 business days for regular mail; 3-4 days when sent by FedEx, UPS, or USPS Priority Mail
Expedited: No formal expedite; sending via FedEx/UPS/USPS Priority with prepaid return yields 3-4 day turnaround.
Documents Maryland will apostille
- Notarized documents after Circuit Court clerk certification
- State and county documents with issuing seal and signature (vital records, divorce decrees, MVA ownership certifications, criminal record status certifications)
- Corporate good-standing certificates
- School records notarized and clerk-certified
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Federal documents such as FBI checks, USCIS documents, and consular birth records (go to U.S. Dept. of State)
- Naturalization and immigration documents (cannot be notarized)
- Photocopies of official records
Notarized documents
Maryland notary notarization followed by Circuit Court clerk certification. Naturalization and immigration documents cannot be notarized. School records: notary opens the sealed envelope and notarizes, clerk certifies the notary, then SOS authenticates.
County certification required. Notarized documents must first be taken to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the notary was commissioned (shown on the notary seal) for certification of the notary ($1), then to the Secretary of State. If the certifying clerk is not the current Clerk, call 410-974-5521. State or county issued documents with the issuing department's seal and signature skip this step.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records with the issuing agency's seal and authorized signature go directly to the SOS without notarization or clerk certification; photocopies are not accepted. Call to confirm if the copy is not current.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Maryland-specific points
- Mandatory Circuit Court clerk certification of the notary ($1) before the SOS will apostille any notarized document
- Walk-ins currently suspended; appointment-only with a 10-document daily cap, and possible mail-only during construction
- Counter is open only four hours a day (9 AM-1 PM)
- Processing time depends on how you ship it in: FedEx/UPS/Priority gets 3-4 days, regular mail 7-14 business days
- Mailing checklist form is published in English and Spanish
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Maryland does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland?
The Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk charges $5 per document. By mail: U.S. check or money order payable to Secretary of State. In person: credit or debit card. Circuit Court clerk notary certification (when required) is an additional $1 paid to the clerk.
How long does a Maryland apostille take?
7-14 business days for regular mail; 3-4 days when sent by FedEx, UPS, or USPS Priority Mail Expedited option: No formal expedite; sending via FedEx/UPS/USPS Priority with prepaid return yields 3-4 day turnaround..
Can I get an apostille in person in Maryland?
Yes. Counter hours Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, but a current notice says walk-ins are NOT available; scheduled appointments via an Outlook booking link, limit 10 documents per customer per day and 2 family members per appointment. Office may switch to mail-only during construction starting around mid-October.
Does Maryland require county clerk certification before an apostille?
Notarized documents must first be taken to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the notary was commissioned (shown on the notary seal) for certification of the notary ($1), then to the Secretary of State. If the certifying clerk is not the current Clerk, call 410-974-5521. State or county issued documents with the issuing department’s seal and signature skip this step.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Maryland resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Maryland. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
