Where do I get an apostille in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Secretary of State's Authentications office in Columbia issues apostilles and certifications, by mail or in person.

How much is a South Carolina apostille?

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

South · SC

The Palmetto State

How to get an apostille in South Carolina

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

Capital: Columbia
Governor (2026): Henry McMaster
State flower: Yellow Jessamine
State bird: Carolina Wren

Apostille signed by South Carolina Secretary of State — Authentications (Apostilles)

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

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

South Carolina apostille fees & processing time

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

Source: South Carolina Secretary of State — Authentications (Apostilles) — https://sos.sc.gov/online-filings/apostilles-and-certificationsDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in South Carolina

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 South Carolina.

Specimen

What a South Carolina apostille looks like

A South Carolina apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the South Carolina Secretary of State — 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 South Carolina Secretary of State — 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 South Carolina. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

South Carolina apostille FAQ

Where do I get an apostille in South Carolina?: The South Carolina Secretary of State's Authentications office in Columbia issues apostilles and certifications, by mail or in person.
How much is a South Carolina apostille?: South Carolina's per-document fee is historically low (around $2). Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page.

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

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