North Carolina apostille services.
Get North Carolina documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in North Carolina, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a North Carolina document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In North Carolina, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Authentication Office in Raleigh.
North Carolina is flexible in a helpful way — a vital record can come from either the state or the county Register of Deeds — but the Authentication Office's queue can run several weeks by mail, and it doesn't offer an electronic apostille, so every submission is on paper. Preparing it correctly is what avoids a second trip through the line.
We prepare, submit, and track your North Carolina apostille from start to finish — hand-delivering it in Raleigh when speed matters — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in North Carolina.
One partner for every North Carolina 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.
North Carolina requirements
What North Carolina documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in North Carolina. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records — state or county both work
A North Carolina birth, death, or marriage certificate can be a certified copy from either NC Vital Records or the county Register of Deeds where the event occurred — both are accepted — as long as it's an original certified copy on security paper with the official's signature and seal. Photocopies, scans, and notarized copies are rejected, and divorce records come from the Clerk of Court. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the state
Because North Carolina notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State, a document notarized by an NC notary goes directly to the Authentication Office — there's no county Register of Deeds step. We can notarize your document in person, by mobile notary, or online.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Existence
North Carolina's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Existence from the Secretary of State's Business Registration Division. Because it's state-issued, it goes straight to apostille. We obtain it and apostille it together.
Documents we apostille in North Carolina
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 North Carolina to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in North Carolina.
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Tell us your North Carolina document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of North Carolina
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in North Carolina — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
North Carolina apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in North Carolina?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In North Carolina, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State, and whether we obtain the certified vital record or notarize the document for you is the main variable. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
How long does a North Carolina apostille take?+
The Authentication Office's mail queue currently runs a few weeks and fluctuates with demand; hand-delivered documents in Raleigh are processed faster. North Carolina does not offer an electronic apostille, so every submission is on paper. We confirm the current turnaround and route yours the fastest way.
Do North Carolina birth certificates need anything special?+
A North Carolina birth, death, or marriage certificate can be a certified copy from either NC Vital Records or the county Register of Deeds — both are accepted — but it must be an original certified copy on security paper. Photocopies, scans, and notarized copies are rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Does a North Carolina notarized document need a county step?+
No. Because North Carolina notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State, a notarized document goes straight to the Authentication Office — there's no county Register of Deeds step. We can notarize your document for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in North Carolina?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by North Carolina. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a North Carolina apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of North Carolina — Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, 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 North Carolina apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.