Documents issued or notarized in North Dakota are apostilled by the Notary Unit, Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State. The office authenticates the signatures of North Dakota public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and North Dakota-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues an Apostille for Hague countries and a 'Certification' for non-Hague countries.
Where to file
| North Dakota Secretary of State, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500 | |
| In person | 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505 Walk-in during business hours, no appointment needed; online booking available for an in-person meeting with the Licensing and Notary team. Same-day not stated. |
| Official page | https://www.sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille/apostille-and-certification |
How to get a North Dakota apostille
- Confirm the document is a North Dakota public document
The Notary Unit, Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State authenticates signatures of North Dakota officials and North Dakota-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, 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 North Dakota Secretary of State, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500; in person at 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505 (Walk-in during business hours, no appointment needed; online booking available for an in-person meeting with the Licensing and Notary team. Same-day not stated.). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: Usually within 3 business days of receipt. Expedited: No expedited processing; include a prepaid pre-addressed label for overnight/priority return (default is USPS First Class).. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. $10 per authentication plus a $5 record search fee per unique notary or official signature (two documents by the same notary = one $5 search). Payment methods not published.
Processing time: Usually within 3 business days of receipt
Expedited: No expedited processing; include a prepaid pre-addressed label for overnight/priority return (default is USPS First Class).
Documents North Dakota will apostille
- Business documents (bylaws, articles, certificates of good standing)
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Powers of attorney
- Probated wills, judgments, divorce decrees
- Diplomas and school transcripts (with notarized principal/registrar acknowledgment)
- Overseas adoption documents
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Documents not notarized by a ND notary or certified by a ND entity
Notarized documents
Document must be notarized by a North Dakota notary or be a certified copy of an official North Dakota document. Request must include a letter stating the destination country.
North Dakota 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 and death certificates use a two-agency process: order from ND Vital Records (HHS) and note in the order that an apostille is needed with the destination country; Vital Records forwards to the Secretary of State, which contacts the requester to collect its fees and returns the finished order.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
North Dakota-specific points
- Unique $5 record-search surcharge per distinct signer on top of the $10 fee.
- Vital records can be routed directly from ND Vital Records to the Secretary of State without the requester handling the certificate in between.
- Office invites emailing scans for pre-review before mailing originals.
- School records require a notarized acknowledgment page from the principal plus the stapled copies.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
North Dakota does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
The Notary Unit, Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State charges $10 per document. $10 per authentication plus a $5 record search fee per unique notary or official signature (two documents by the same notary = one $5 search). Payment methods not published.
How long does a North Dakota apostille take?
Usually within 3 business days of receipt Expedited option: No expedited processing; include a prepaid pre-addressed label for overnight/priority return (default is USPS First Class)..
Can I get an apostille in person in North Dakota?
Yes. Walk-in during business hours, no appointment needed; online booking available for an in-person meeting with the Licensing and Notary team. Same-day not stated.
Does North Dakota require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Notary Unit, Office of the North Dakota Secretary of State provided the notary is commissioned in North Dakota and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a North Dakota resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by North Dakota. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
