Iowa apostille services.
Get Iowa documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Iowa Secretary of State 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 Iowa.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Iowa, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on an Iowa document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Iowa, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Business Services Division in Des Moines.
Iowa has a distinctive vital-records format: a state-certified birth or death certificate is signed by both the State Registrar and the Governor of Iowa. It can come from the state health department or a county recorder — but it can never be notarized, and a hospital “souvenir” copy won't do.
We prepare, submit, and track your Iowa apostille from start to finish — obtaining the right certified copy and routing it correctly — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Iowa.
One partner for every Iowa 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.
Iowa requirements
What Iowa documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Iowa. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records — signed by the Governor and State Registrar
An Iowa birth or death certificate for an apostille must be a state-certified copy, which carries the gold-embossed state seal and is signed by both the State Registrar and the Governor of Iowa. It can be issued by the state health department or a county recorder on the state's behalf. It can't be notarized, and a photocopy or hospital “souvenir” certificate is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the state
Because Iowa notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State, a document notarized by an Iowa notary goes directly to the Secretary of State — there's no county step. It just needs a complete, correct notarial certificate. We notarize your document correctly for you.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Existence
Iowa's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Existence (or Standing) from the Secretary of State, which apostilles its own certificate directly. We obtain the certificate and apostille it together.
Documents we apostille in Iowa
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 Iowa to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Iowa.
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Tell us your Iowa document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Iowa Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Iowa document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Iowa Secretary of State for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Iowa document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Iowa
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Iowa — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Iowa apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Iowa?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In Iowa, a state-certified vital record — signed by the State Registrar and the Governor — is often the main input. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Do Iowa birth certificates need anything special?+
Yes, and it's distinctive: an Iowa state-certified birth or death certificate is signed by both the State Registrar and the Governor of Iowa. It can come from the state health department or a county recorder, but it can't be notarized, and a hospital 'souvenir' copy or photocopy is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Does an Iowa notarized document need a county step?+
No. Because Iowa notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State, a notarized document goes straight to the Secretary of State — there's no county step. We notarize your document correctly for you.
How long does an Iowa apostille take?+
A walk-in at the Des Moines office is same-day during business hours; mail times aren't published, so we confirm the current turnaround and route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Iowa?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Iowa — even if you live in Iowa. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get an Iowa apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Iowa — Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, 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 Iowa apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.