How much is a Louisiana apostille?

Louisiana's per-document fee is commonly around $20. Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.

Where do I get a Louisiana birth certificate apostilled?

Order a certified copy from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, then submit it to the Secretary of State's Commercial Division for the apostille.

South · LA

The Pelican State

How to get an apostille in Louisiana

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

Capital: Baton Rouge
Governor (2026): Jeff Landry
State flower: Magnolia
State bird: Brown Pelican

Apostille signed by Louisiana Secretary of State — Commercial Division (Apostilles & Authentications)

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

01
Confirm the document is Louisiana-issued or notarized by a Louisiana notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Louisiana 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 Louisiana Vital Records Registry (Department of Health).
04
Complete the apostille/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.

Louisiana apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Louisiana Secretary of State — Commercial Division (Apostilles & Authentications)
State fee	$20 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Baton Rouge.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, in Baton Rouge (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Louisiana Secretary of State — Commercial Division (Apostilles & Authentications) — https://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/Pages/ApostillesAndAuthentications.aspxDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Louisiana

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 Louisiana.

Specimen

What a Louisiana apostille looks like

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

Louisiana apostille FAQ

How much is a Louisiana apostille?: Louisiana's per-document fee is commonly around $20. Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.
Where do I get a Louisiana birth certificate apostilled?: Order a certified copy from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, then submit it to the Secretary of State's Commercial Division for the apostille.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Louisiana apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Louisiana Secretary of State — Commercial Division (Apostilles & Authentications) 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 Louisiana 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.