Documents issued or notarized in Minnesota are apostilled by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services (Apostille). The office authenticates the signatures of Minnesota public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Minnesota-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues one apostille certificate for all destination countries, Hague or not.
Where to file
| Minnesota Secretary of State, First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 | |
| In person | 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 No walk-ins; in-person service is by appointment only (8am-4pm), booked at sos.mn.gov/appointment up to 14 days ahead. Max 10 documents per appointment; larger batches must be mailed or dropped off. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille/apostille/how-to-get-an-apostille/ |
How to get a Minnesota apostille
- Confirm the document is a Minnesota public document
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services (Apostille) authenticates signatures of Minnesota officials and Minnesota-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 Minnesota Secretary of State, First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101; in person at 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101 (No walk-ins; in-person service is by appointment only (8am-4pm), booked at sos.mn.gov/appointment up to 14 days ahead. Max 10 documents per appointment; larger batches must be mailed or dropped off.). The fee is $5 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: not published; check the official site. Expedited: None; urgent requests when appointments are full may email apostille.oss@state.mn.us. Prepaid overnight return label speeds only return shipping.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $5 per document. In person: card, cash, check or money order. By mail: check or money order payable to 'MN Secretary of State' (or debit a Secretary of State client account). Over/underpayment causes rejection.
Processing time: Not published by the office — check the official page for the current processing date.
Expedited: None; urgent requests when appointments are full may email apostille.oss@state.mn.us. Prepaid overnight return label speeds only return shipping.
Documents Minnesota will apostille
- Documents notarized by a Minnesota notary public
- MDH-certified birth and death certificates
- County-certified marriage certificates and divorce decrees
- Certified Secretary of State business filings
- Notarized school transcripts and diplomas
- Notarized true-copy photocopies of IDs and passports
- Notarized translations (each gets its own apostille)
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Keepsake/souvenir marriage certificates
- Original driver's licenses, IDs or passports
- School documents bearing only a registrar signature/seal without notarization
- Out-of-state documents
- FBI background checks and other federal documents
- Electronically or remotely notarized documents
- Documents without original signatures
Notarized documents
Notarial certificate must be in English, attached to or on the document, and include jurisdiction, statement, 'Notary Public' title, date, original signature and stamp (Minn. Stat. 358.65). Stamp name and expiration must match the notary database. Electronically or remotely notarized documents (including printouts) are not accepted. Notary may certify a photocopy only if the notary personally copies the original.
Minnesota 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 certificates must be certified by the Minnesota Department of Health; Minnesota does not issue long-form birth certificates (certified certificate, noncertified record and policy memo are each submitted separately). Marriage certificates must be certified by the issuing county; keepsake copies rejected. Hennepin County does not certify single-status letters, so a notarized affidavit is used instead.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Minnesota-specific points
- Same apostille certificate is issued regardless of whether the destination country is in the Hague Convention.
- Remote online notarizations are explicitly rejected, even printed out.
- Staff will open sealed transcript envelopes to check the notarization.
- Minnesota criminal history records need a notarized BCA letter; the office won't apostille the record itself.
- Building has no public restrooms.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Minnesota does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services (Apostille) charges $5 per document. In person: card, cash, check or money order. By mail: check or money order payable to ‘MN Secretary of State’ (or debit a Secretary of State client account). Over/underpayment causes rejection.
How long does a Minnesota apostille take?
The office does not publish a standard turnaround; contact the office or check the official site for current processing dates. Expedited option: None; urgent requests when appointments are full may email apostille.oss@state.mn.us. Prepaid overnight return label speeds only return shipping..
Can I get an apostille in person in Minnesota?
Yes. No walk-ins; in-person service is by appointment only (8am-4pm), booked at sos.mn.gov/appointment up to 14 days ahead. Max 10 documents per appointment; larger batches must be mailed or dropped off.
Does Minnesota require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services (Apostille) provided the notary is commissioned in Minnesota and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Minnesota resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Minnesota. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
