Documents issued or notarized in Oregon are apostilled by the Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State. The office authenticates the signatures of Oregon public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Oregon-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Uses a single form of certificate for both Hague and non-Hague countries (Model Apostille Certificate under the Uniform Apostille Standards).
Where to file
| Corporation Division, Public Service Building, 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310-1327 | |
| In person | Public Service Building, 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310 Front desk Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm, Salem only (no Portland service). No appointment stated; same-day not stated. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://sos.oregon.gov/business/Pages/how-to-get-authentication-apostille.aspx |
How to get a Oregon apostille
- Confirm the document is a Oregon public document
The Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State authenticates signatures of Oregon officials and Oregon-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 Corporation Division, Public Service Building, 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310-1327; in person at Public Service Building, 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151, Salem, OR 97310 (Front desk Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm, Salem only (no Portland service). No appointment stated; same-day not stated.). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: About 10 business days for regular mail; about 2-3 business days when sent via FedEx or UPS. Expedited: No fee-based expedite; FedEx/UPS submissions are processed faster and a prepaid FedEx/UPS airbill can be included for return.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. $10 per authentication, charged per official signature (each notary/registrar/clerk signature needs its own). Check or money order payable to 'State of Oregon', or Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express. No cash by mail.
Processing time: About 10 business days for regular mail; about 2-3 business days when sent via FedEx or UPS
Expedited: No fee-based expedite; FedEx/UPS submissions are processed faster and a prepaid FedEx/UPS airbill can be included for return.
Documents Oregon will apostille
- Oregon-notarized documents
- State Registrar and county vital records
- Certified business filings
- Circuit court documents with signature, printed name and title
- Notarized school transcripts and diplomas
- Notarized Oregon State Police or local background checks
- Notarized Professional Engineer certificates
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Photocopies
- Federal documents, FBI checks and federal court records
- Out-of-state records
- Fingerprint cards
- Untranslated/unnotarized translations
- Documents with a previously attached certificate removed
Notarized documents
Oregon notary only, with a complete notarial certificate. School transcripts/diplomas: registrar or principal signs a certification of authenticity before a notary; statements go on the back or an attached sheet, never on the face. Oregon agency background checks and non-filed corporate documents (bylaws, minutes) must be notarized. Secretary of State does not notarize on site.
Oregon does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Original certified copies from the Oregon Center for Health Statistics or the county where the event occurred; the registrar's name must be printed beside the signature or a new copy is required. Marriage and dissolution certificates come from the Center for Health Statistics.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Oregon-specific points
- Fee is per signature authenticated, not per document.
- Submitting by FedEx/UPS instead of USPS cuts processing from ~10 to ~2-3 business days.
- Vital records can be ordered through VitalChek and shipped straight to the Corporation Division.
- Professional Engineer certificate requests (mostly for South Korea) must be notarized; a board signature is not a notarization.
- Brochures published in English, Spanish and Russian.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Oregon does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon?
The Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State charges $10 per document. $10 per authentication, charged per official signature (each notary/registrar/clerk signature needs its own). Check or money order payable to ‘State of Oregon’, or Visa/MasterCard/Discover/American Express. No cash by mail.
How long does a Oregon apostille take?
About 10 business days for regular mail; about 2-3 business days when sent via FedEx or UPS Expedited option: No fee-based expedite; FedEx/UPS submissions are processed faster and a prepaid FedEx/UPS airbill can be included for return..
Can I get an apostille in person in Oregon?
Yes. Front desk Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm, Salem only (no Portland service). No appointment stated; same-day not stated.
Does Oregon require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Corporation Division, Oregon Secretary of State provided the notary is commissioned in Oregon and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Oregon resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Oregon. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
