Documents issued or notarized in Pennsylvania are apostilled by the Apostilles & Certifications, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, Pennsylvania Department of State. The office authenticates the signatures of Pennsylvania public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Pennsylvania-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Now issues a single universal certificate for both Hague and non-Hague countries, with Spanish and French translations and a black-ink electronic seal (no raised gold seal).
Where to file
| Pennsylvania Department of State, Apostilles & Certifications, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029 | |
| In person | North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 First-come, first-served; building front doors lock after 3:00 pm. Tell staff the number of documents and destination country; payment due when the certification is complete. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/document-certification.html |
How to get a Pennsylvania apostille
- Confirm the document is a Pennsylvania public document
The Apostilles & Certifications, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, Pennsylvania Department of State authenticates signatures of Pennsylvania officials and Pennsylvania-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 Pennsylvania Department of State, Apostilles & Certifications, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029; in person at North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 (First-come, first-served; building front doors lock after 3:00 pm. Tell staff the number of documents and destination country; payment due when the certification is complete.). The fee is $15 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: About 2-3 weeks for mail requests, excluding mailing time (page shows the receipt date currently being processed). Expedited: No expedited service; prepaid UPS or USPS return label accepted (FedEx and DHL return labels are NOT accepted).. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $15 per document. $15 per document (not per page). Walk-in: check, money order or credit card (no cash since Nov 25, 2024). Mail: personal check, money order or cashier's check payable to 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'; foreign-bank checks must be in USD with a routing number. Notary Certificate of Good Standing also $15.
Processing time: About 2-3 weeks for mail requests, excluding mailing time (page shows the receipt date currently being processed)
Expedited: No expedited service; prepaid UPS or USPS return label accepted (FedEx and DHL return labels are NOT accepted).
Documents Pennsylvania will apostille
- State Registrar vital records
- County-clerk-signed marriage, divorce and court records
- PA-notarized documents
- Notarized diplomas, transcripts and criminal record checks
- Business documents from the Bureau of Corporations
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Photocopies of notarized or certified documents
- County documents signed by deputy/assistant clerks
- Death certificates signed by a local registrar
- Marriage certificates signed only by the officiant
- Federal documents (FBI checks)
- Documents for use within the US
- Cash
Notarized documents
Pennsylvania notary; notarial certificate must be in English (another language may appear beside it). Diplomas, transcripts and criminal record checks must be notarized by a PA notary. A notary may be required to provide a Certificate of Good Standing ($15).
Pennsylvania 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 from PA Department of Health Vital Records; death certificates must be signed by the State Registrar (local registrar signatures rejected). Birth certificates should not be notarized. Marriage certificates must be signed by the Register of Wills or Clerk of the Orphans' Court, not just the officiant. Marriage, divorce and adoption records come from the county office where filed.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Pennsylvania-specific points
- FedEx and DHL return labels are refused; only UPS (listing yourself as sender and recipient) or USPS.
- Documents must be stapled; the state never uses ribbons, grommets or glue, and the staple must not be removed afterward.
- Building doors lock at 3:00 pm, so walk-ins must arrive earlier.
- Request form provided in Chinese and Spanish; a cover letter is acceptable instead.
- Switched to an electronic black-ink seal and bilingual (Spanish/French) certificate format.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Pennsylvania does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
The Apostilles & Certifications, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, Pennsylvania Department of State charges $15 per document. $15 per document (not per page). Walk-in: check, money order or credit card (no cash since Nov 25, 2024). Mail: personal check, money order or cashier’s check payable to ‘Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’; foreign-bank checks must be in USD with a routing number. Notary Certificate of Good Standing also $15.
How long does a Pennsylvania apostille take?
About 2-3 weeks for mail requests, excluding mailing time (page shows the receipt date currently being processed) Expedited option: No expedited service; prepaid UPS or USPS return label accepted (FedEx and DHL return labels are NOT accepted)..
Can I get an apostille in person in Pennsylvania?
Yes. First-come, first-served; building front doors lock after 3:00 pm. Tell staff the number of documents and destination country; payment due when the certification is complete.
Does Pennsylvania require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Apostilles & Certifications, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation, Pennsylvania Department of State provided the notary is commissioned in Pennsylvania and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Pennsylvania resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Pennsylvania. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
