Does Alabama issue apostilles or authentications?

Both. Alabama issues an apostille when the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and a certificate of authentication when it is not.

Can the Alabama Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?

No. FBI background checks and other federal documents are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by any state.

South · AL

Yellowhammer State

How to get an apostille in Alabama

In Alabama, apostilles are issued by the Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Alabama apostille looks like.

Capital: Montgomery
Governor (2026): Kay Ivey
State flower: Camellia
State bird: Yellowhammer

Apostille signed by Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Alabama process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in Alabama

01
Obtain the document and confirm it is an Alabama-issued public document or a properly notarized Alabama private document.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Alabama Secretary of State authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For vital records, order a certified copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health (Center for Health Statistics).
04
Complete the Secretary of State's authentication request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person to the Authentications office with the fee and a self-addressed prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive the apostille (Hague countries) or certificate of authentication (non-Hague countries) attached to your document.

Alabama apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications
State fee	$5 per document
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person same-day at the Montgomery office.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Alabama Secretary of State, Authentications, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616. Include the fee, destination country, and a prepaid return envelope. Confirm the current address on the official page before mailing.

Source: Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications — https://www.sos.alabama.gov/government-records/apostilles-authenticationsDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Alabama

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from the state vital-records office)
Divorce decrees and court orders (certified by the clerk of court)
Powers of attorney and affidavits (signed before a notary)
Single-status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
Diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates
Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, good-standing certificates, board resolutions
Commercial and export documents

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by Alabama.

Specimen

What a Alabama apostille looks like

A Alabama apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for Alabama. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Alabama apostille FAQ

Does Alabama issue apostilles or authentications?: Both. Alabama issues an apostille when the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and a certificate of authentication when it is not.
Can the Alabama Secretary of State apostille an FBI background check?: No. FBI background checks and other federal documents are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by any state.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Alabama apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Alabama Secretary of State — Authentications via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

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