Where do I get an apostille in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation in Harrisburg issues apostilles and certifications, by mail or in person.

How much is a Pennsylvania apostille?

Pennsylvania's per-document fee is commonly around $15. Confirm the current fee on the Department of State's page.

Northeast · PA

The Keystone State

How to get an apostille in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, apostilles are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (Apostilles). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Pennsylvania apostille looks like.

Capital: Harrisburg
Governor (2026): Josh Shapiro
State flower: Mountain Laurel
State bird: Ruffed Grouse

Apostille signed by Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (Apostilles)

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

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

Pennsylvania apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (Apostilles)
State fee	$15 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Harrisburg.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation, in Harrisburg (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (Apostilles) — https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/apostilles-and-certifications.htmlDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania.

Specimen

What a Pennsylvania apostille looks like

A Pennsylvania apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (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 Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (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 Pennsylvania. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Pennsylvania apostille FAQ

Where do I get an apostille in Pennsylvania?: The Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation in Harrisburg issues apostilles and certifications, by mail or in person.
How much is a Pennsylvania apostille?: Pennsylvania's per-document fee is commonly around $15. Confirm the current fee on the Department of State's page.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Pennsylvania apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Pennsylvania Department of State — Bureau of Commissions, Elections & Legislation (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 Pennsylvania 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.