Illinois apostille services.
Get Illinois documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Illinois.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Illinois, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on an Illinois document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Illinois, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Index Department, with offices in Springfield and Chicago.
Illinois moves documents quickly, but one rule catches people out: an Illinois vital record must never be notarized. A notarized birth or death certificate is rejected, so the certified copy has to go in as-is.
We prepare, submit, and track your Illinois apostille from start to finish — routing it to the correct office — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Illinois.
One partner for every Illinois document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
Illinois requirements
What Illinois documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Illinois. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Never notarize an Illinois vital record
For a birth, death, or marriage record, you submit the certified copy from the county clerk, local registrar, or the Illinois Department of Public Health — with the official's signature — and you do not notarize it. Notarizing a vital record makes it ineligible for the apostille. A divorce decree instead comes certified from the circuit clerk of the court that granted it. We obtain and route the correct copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the state
A power of attorney, affidavit, or other private document notarized by an Illinois notary goes directly to the Secretary of State's Index Department — there's no county step. We can notarize your document in person, by mobile notary, or online.
Corporate records
Certified copies of business documents on file with the Illinois Secretary of State — including a Certificate of Existence (good standing) — are apostilled directly, no notary needed. Company records that aren't on file, like bylaws or minutes, must be notarized first. We handle either.
Documents we apostille in Illinois
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in Illinois to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Illinois.
- 1
Tell us your Illinois document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
- 2
Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Illinois document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
- 3
We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
- 4
Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Illinois document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Illinois
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Illinois — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Illinois apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Illinois?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In Illinois, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Index Department, and whether we obtain the certified vital record or notarize the document for you is the main input. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
How long does an Illinois apostille take?+
By mail the Index Department takes about 7 to 14 business days (mail-in requests go to the Chicago office); a walk-in in Springfield or Chicago is same-day. We route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Do Illinois birth certificates need anything special?+
Yes — and the key rule is: do not notarize it. An Illinois vital record must be a certified copy from the county clerk, local registrar, or the Illinois Department of Public Health, with the official's signature; notarizing it makes it ineligible. A divorce decree instead comes certified from the circuit clerk. We obtain and route the correct copy for you.
Does an Illinois notarized document need a county step?+
No. A power of attorney or affidavit notarized by an Illinois notary goes straight to the Secretary of State's Index Department — there's no county step. We can notarize your document for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Illinois?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Illinois — even if you live in Illinois. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get an Illinois apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Illinois — Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Springfield, and beyond — by secure, tracked mail, and you're welcome at either of our two San Diego walk-in offices.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your Illinois apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.