Documents issued or notarized in Missouri are apostilled by the Commissions Division (Missouri Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of Missouri public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Missouri-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues three certificate types: Certification (verifies a notary), Authentication (verifies recorders, clerks, judges, State Registrar) for non-Hague countries, and Apostille for Hague countries. Destination country determines which is attached.
Where to file
| Commissions, Secretary of State's Office, 600 West Main, Room 322, Jefferson City, MO 65101 | |
| In person | James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 W Main St, Room 322, Jefferson City, MO 65101 Official apostille page lists only the mailing address; the State Information Center is open M-F 8am-5pm. Call (573) 751-2783 to confirm counter service. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Business/Notary/notary/certify |
How to get a Missouri apostille
- Confirm the document is a Missouri public document
The Commissions Division authenticates signatures of Missouri officials and Missouri-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 Commissions, Secretary of State's Office, 600 West Main, Room 322, Jefferson City, MO 65101; in person at James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 W Main St, Room 322, Jefferson City, MO 65101 (Official apostille page lists only the mailing address; the State Information Center is open M-F 8am-5pm. Call (573) 751-2783 to confirm counter service.). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: not published; check the official site. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. $10 per certification/authentication: one document with several notarizations by the same notary = $10; notarizations by different notaries = $10 per notary. Check/money order payable to Secretary of State's Office, or MasterCard/Visa/AmEx/Discover with a credit card payment sheet (convenience fee applies). Adoption documents capped by statute at $100 per child per adoption.
Processing time: Not published by the office — check the official page for the current processing date.
Documents Missouri will apostille
- Documents notarized by a Missouri notary public
- Certified vital records from the State Registrar
- Certified records from Recorders of Deeds, Circuit Clerks, judges and county clerks
- School documents certified by the school
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Out-of-state documents
- Documents lacking notarial paragraph, signature or seal
Notarized documents
Notarized documents must include the notarial paragraph, notary signature and seal.
Missouri 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 certificates: certified copy from the Bureau of Vital Records (573-751-6387). Marriage: certified copy from the Recorder of Deeds of the county of marriage or a marriage statement from Vital Records. Divorce: certified copy from the Circuit Clerk.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Missouri-specific points
- Fee is charged per notary, not per document, when one document carries notarizations by different notaries.
- Statutory $100-per-child cap on apostille fees for adoption dossiers.
- Credit card payment requires a separate credit card payment sheet mailed with the cover letter.
- Missouri apostille certificate carries the printed warning that it is not valid anywhere within the United States.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Missouri does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri?
The Commissions Division charges $10 per document. $10 per certification/authentication: one document with several notarizations by the same notary = $10; notarizations by different notaries = $10 per notary. Check/money order payable to Secretary of State’s Office, or MasterCard/Visa/AmEx/Discover with a credit card payment sheet (convenience fee applies). Adoption documents capped by statute at $100 per child per adoption.
How long does a Missouri apostille take?
The office does not publish a standard turnaround; contact the office or check the official site for current processing dates.
Can I get an apostille in person in Missouri?
Yes. Official apostille page lists only the mailing address; the State Information Center is open M-F 8am-5pm. Call (573) 751-2783 to confirm counter service.
Does Missouri require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Commissions Division provided the notary is commissioned in Missouri and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Missouri resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Missouri. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
