Documents issued or notarized in Tennessee are apostilled by the Office of Authentications, Business Services Division (ATS Section) (Tennessee Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of Tennessee public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Tennessee-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues both Apostilles (Hague) and Authentications (non-Hague); an Authentication must then be certified by the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
Where to file
| Office of Authentications, Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division, ATTN: ATS Section, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 6th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 | |
| In person | Customer service desk, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 3rd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:15 PM Central, closed state holidays. Arrive by 2:00 PM for same-day service. No appointment mentioned. |
| Official page | https://sos.tn.gov/businesses/guides/apostille-authentication-guide |
How to get a Tennessee apostille
- Confirm the document is a Tennessee public document
The Office of Authentications, Business Services Division (ATS Section) authenticates signatures of Tennessee officials and Tennessee-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Obtain county certification where required
Any document notarized by a Tennessee notary must first be taken to the County Clerk of the county where the notary is commissioned to have the notary's signature certified; the county certification is submitted with the request. Not required for records signed by the State Registrar or Secretary 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 Office of Authentications, Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division, ATTN: ATS Section, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 6th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243; in person at Customer service desk, 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 3rd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243 (Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:15 PM Central, closed state holidays. Arrive by 2:00 PM for same-day service. No appointment mentioned.). The fee is $2 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: Not published; same-day in person if arriving by 2:00 PM. Secondary sources cite 2-3 business days for mail.. Expedited: No paid expedited service; same-day in-person only. Prepaid FedEx/UPS return label accepted if your name is listed as both sender and recipient.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $2 per document. Check or money order payable to Tennessee Secretary of State. If ordering certified vital records at the same time, a separate check to the TN Office of Vital Records is required.
Processing time: Not published; same-day in person if arriving by 2:00 PM. Secondary sources cite 2-3 business days for mail.
Expedited: No paid expedited service; same-day in-person only. Prepaid FedEx/UPS return label accepted if your name is listed as both sender and recipient.
Documents Tennessee will apostille
- Documents executed, issued or certified by Tennessee County Clerks
- Vital records certified by the Tennessee State Registrar
- Documents issued or certified by the Tennessee Secretary of State
- TN-notarized documents (after county clerk certification), including diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Notarized documents lacking county clerk certification of the notary signature
- Return shipping labels listing the Tennessee Secretary of State as sender
- Federal documents (FBI checks, naturalization) - go to U.S. Dept of State
Notarized documents
Must be a Tennessee notary public; the notary's signature must then be certified by the commissioning County Clerk before submission.
County certification required. Any document notarized by a Tennessee notary must first be taken to the County Clerk of the county where the notary is commissioned to have the notary's signature certified; the county certification is submitted with the request. Not required for records signed by the State Registrar or Secretary of State.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Birth/death/marriage/divorce certificates signed by the Tennessee State Registrar need no notarization or county step. If you lack a certified copy, TN Vital Records will issue it and forward it with your request and SOS check directly to the Secretary of State for the apostille. Secondary source cites a 2-year certification age limit.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Tennessee-specific points
- At $2 per document, one of the cheapest apostilles in the US
- Mandatory two-step: TN notary, then County Clerk certifies the notary signature, then Secretary of State
- Vital Records will route a freshly issued certified copy straight to the SOS for apostille if you enclose both checks
- Walk-in counter is on the 3rd floor while mail goes to the 6th floor of the same building
- Form SS-4504 is linked from the guide page but has no stable public PDF URL
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Tennessee does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
The Office of Authentications, Business Services Division (ATS Section) charges $2 per document. Check or money order payable to Tennessee Secretary of State. If ordering certified vital records at the same time, a separate check to the TN Office of Vital Records is required.
How long does a Tennessee apostille take?
Not published; same-day in person if arriving by 2:00 PM. Secondary sources cite 2-3 business days for mail. Expedited option: No paid expedited service; same-day in-person only. Prepaid FedEx/UPS return label accepted if your name is listed as both sender and recipient..
Can I get an apostille in person in Tennessee?
Yes. Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:15 PM Central, closed state holidays. Arrive by 2:00 PM for same-day service. No appointment mentioned.
Does Tennessee require county clerk certification before an apostille?
Any document notarized by a Tennessee notary must first be taken to the County Clerk of the county where the notary is commissioned to have the notary’s signature certified; the county certification is submitted with the request. Not required for records signed by the State Registrar or Secretary of State.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Tennessee resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Tennessee. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
