Who issues apostilles in Michigan?

Apostilles are issued by the Michigan Department of State's Office of the Great Seal in Lansing — note Michigan's notaries are certified by the county clerk first.

How much is a Michigan apostille?

Michigan's per-document fee is historically very low (often around $1). Confirm the current fee on the official page before mailing.

Midwest · MI

The Great Lakes State

How to get an apostille in Michigan

In Michigan, apostilles are issued by the Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Michigan apostille looks like.

Capital: Lansing
Governor (2026): Gretchen Whitmer
State flower: Apple Blossom
State bird: American Robin

Apostille signed by Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications)

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

01
Confirm the document is Michigan-issued or notarized by a Michigan notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Office of the Great Seal 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 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Vital Records) or the county clerk.
04
Complete the apostille/certification 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.

Michigan apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications)
State fee	$1 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Lansing.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, in Lansing (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications) — https://www.michigan.gov/sos/resources/apostilleDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Michigan

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 Michigan.

Specimen

What a Michigan apostille looks like

A Michigan apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications) 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 Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications)
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 Michigan. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Michigan apostille FAQ

Who issues apostilles in Michigan?: Apostilles are issued by the Michigan Department of State's Office of the Great Seal in Lansing — note Michigan's notaries are certified by the county clerk first.
How much is a Michigan apostille?: Michigan's per-document fee is historically very low (often around $1). Confirm the current fee on the official page before mailing.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Michigan apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Michigan Department of State — Office of the Great Seal (Apostilles & Certifications) 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 Michigan 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.