Maintenance Notice: Various applications including SOSDirect and SOSUpload will be unavailable Saturday, February 22, from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, OUR LOBBY WALK-IN HOURS WILL BE 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. (CENTRAL), MONDAY - FRIDAY.
En Español

How to Request a Universal Apostille

Walk-In Service

NEW! Effective May 15, 2024, walk-in customers will be limited to 10 apostille transactions per person.
If you have more than 10 requests, you may place them in our drop box for a 24-48 hour turnaround.

Three (3) items are needed to request a universal apostille in person:

  1. The original documents and/or certified copies must have been issued within the past five years.
  2. Apostille Request Form
    Include the name of the country where the document will be recorded on the request form.
  3. $15 per certificate, unless the fee is for an adoption proceeding. The fee for an adoption proceeding is $10.
    *Total fees may not exceed $100.00 for adoption of each child.
    Check
    A check or money order drawn on a U.S. Bank and made payable to the Secretary of State of Texas must be submitted with the documents.
    Credit Card
    American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa cards (PDF) are accepted (subject to a 2.7% convenience fee)
    Cash
    The exact amount in cash must be provided. The Office does not provide change.

Address Information
Secretary of State
Authentications Unit
1019 Brazos, Austin, TX 78701
Walk-In Service: Room 106
Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Central Time (Call for holiday hours)

Mail Service

Please allow at least twenty-five (25) business days for processing any request received by mail. Current processing time may exceed this timeframe due to demand.

Four (4) items are needed to request a universal Apostille by mail:

  1. The original documents and/or certified copies must have been issued within the past five years.
  2. Apostille Request Form
    Include the name of the country where the document will be recorded on the request form.
  3. Statutory fee of $15 per certificate, unless the fee is for an adoption proceeding. The fee for an adoption proceeding is $10.
    *Total fees may not exceed $100.00 for adoption of each child.
    Check
    A check or money order drawn on a U.S. Bank and made payable to the Secretary of State of Texas must be submitted with the documents.
    Payment Form - SOS Client Account (PDF)
    American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa cards (PDF) are accepted (subject to a 2.7% convenience fee)
  4. A self-addressed, stamped envelope or pre-paid overnight airbill/envelope.
  5. Our office does not offer expedited service for mail-in requests. The use of overnight mail service does not expedite processing time.

Address Information
Secretary of State
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550, Austin, TX 78711
Walk-In Service: Room 106
Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Central Time (Call for holiday hours)

+ Universal Apostille for a Notarized Document

To submit a request for a universal apostille for a document notarized by a Texas notary public, the notarized document must:
  1. Be the original document, photocopies of notarized documents are not accepted.
  2. Include a "true and correct" statement and signature from the signer of the document.
  3. Include a completed notarization (legible Texas notary public signature, seal/stamp, and notarial certificate, completed by the notary. To learn more about a proper notarization, please review our Notary Education Information.

+ Universal Apostille for a School Transcript or Diploma

To submit a request for a universal apostille for a school transcript or diploma, the notarized school transcript or diploma must:
  1. Be notarized by a Texas Notary Public
  2. Meet the following requirements:
    • If you are submitting an original transcript or diploma issued from the school, the school registrar or a school official must provide the true and correct statement and signature on the document.
    • If you are submitting a photocopy of the transcript or diploma, the student or parent (if the student is not a legal adult) must provide the true and correct statement and signature on the document.

+ Universal Apostille for a Public Record (Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Court Records, etc.)

To submit a request for a universal apostille of a public record, the public record must:
  • Be an original record (If the document is older than 5 years, please obtain a certified copy from the agency or office the document is filed at.

+ Federal Documents

This office does not provide an apostille or authentication for federal documents, such as FBI background checks or Certificates of Naturalization. Please send these documents to the Office of Authentications within the US State Department.

+ Documents from Other States or Countries

This office only provides universal apostilles for Texas public records. Please contact the state or country that issued your original document to request an apostille or authentication.

+ Business Filings

Apostilles/Authentications may be issued for certified copies of business organization documents on file with the Secretary of State, like certificates of formation. They may also be issued for certificates of fact issued by the Secretary of State evidencing facts from the records on file with the agency. If you need a certificate of fact or certified copies of business documents on file with our office apostilled or authenticated for use out of the country, please email your request to corpcert@sos.texas.gov.