Where can I get an apostille in Illinois?

The Illinois Secretary of State's Index Department handles apostilles, with in-person counters in Chicago and Springfield and a mail-in option.

How much is an Illinois apostille?

Illinois's per-document fee is historically low (around $2). Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.

Midwest · IL

Land of Lincoln

How to get an apostille in Illinois

In Illinois, apostilles are issued by the Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Illinois apostille looks like.

Capital: Springfield
Governor (2026): JB Pritzker
State flower: Violet
State bird: Northern Cardinal

Apostille signed by Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles)

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Illinois 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 Illinois

01
Confirm the document is Illinois-issued or notarized by an Illinois notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Illinois 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, obtain a certified copy from the Illinois Department of Public Health (Division of Vital Records) or the county clerk.
04
Complete the authentication request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive your apostille or certificate of authentication.

Illinois apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles)
State fee	$2 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–3 weeks; in-person service is available in Chicago and Springfield.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, in Springfield (verify the current address online). In-person counters operate in Chicago and Springfield. Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles) — https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/apostille_authentication.htmlDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Illinois

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 Illinois.

Specimen

What a Illinois apostille looks like

A Illinois apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles) 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 Illinois Secretary of State — Index Department (Authentications & Apostilles)
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 Illinois. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Illinois apostille FAQ

Where can I get an apostille in Illinois?: The Illinois Secretary of State's Index Department handles apostilles, with in-person counters in Chicago and Springfield and a mail-in option.
How much is an Illinois apostille?: Illinois's per-document fee is historically low (around $2). Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.

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

Need it done for you?

Rather not deal with the Illinois paperwork yourself?

This guide is free to use. If you’d like a service to prepare, notarize where needed, and submit your documents for you — including federal documents and translations — tell us what you need and we’ll point you to the right help.