Pennsylvania Apostille

Pennsylvania apostilles are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State, Office of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation, in Harrisburg, on behalf of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. An apostille certifies the signature and seal of the Pennsylvania official who signed your document, so a foreign government will accept it.

Which Pennsylvania documents can be apostilled

• Birth and death certificates signed by the State Registrar (Pennsylvania Department of Health)

• Marriage certificates certified by the county Register of Wills or Clerk of the Orphans' Court

• County documents signed and sealed by the elected county official in charge of that office

• Documents notarized by a Pennsylvania notary, such as powers of attorney and affidavits

• Diplomas, transcripts and criminal record checks, once notarized by a Pennsylvania notary

What gets Pennsylvania documents rejected

Pennsylvania rejects more documents for the wrong signature than for anything else:

• Death certificates signed by a local registrar. Only the State Registrar's signature is accepted.

• Marriage certificates signed only by the officiant. You need the certified copy from the Register of Wills or Orphans' Court.

• County documents signed by a deputy or assistant clerk. The elected official's signature is required.

• Diplomas and transcripts that weren't notarized. Notarize them first.

• A notary certificate that isn't in English. Another language can be added, but only next to the English wording.

• Photocopies, or a removed staple. Pennsylvania needs originals, and taking the apostille off voids it.

• An apostille when the country needs a certification, or the reverse. It depends on the destination country, and we confirm that before filing.

How it works with us

1. Send us your document, or tell us what you have and we'll tell you what to order.

2. We check the signer, the notarization and the destination country before filing.

3. We file with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Mailed requests take two to three weeks plus mail time, so we give you a realistic date when you order.

4. We return it by FedEx Priority, shipping included, anywhere in the world. You pay after the apostille is complete.

Pennsylvania apostille FAQ

Should I get my birth certificate notarized first?

No. Pennsylvania says birth certificates should not be notarized. Send the certified copy signed by the State Registrar.

Is the fee per page or per document?

Per document. A multi-page document needs one apostille.

My country isn't in the Hague Convention. What then?

Pennsylvania issues a certification instead, then the document goes to that country's embassy. See our embassy legalization page.