How do I get an apostille in South Dakota?

Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the South Dakota Secretary of State in Pierre with the destination country and any fee.

Does South Dakota charge for an apostille?

Fees can be low or nominal in South Dakota. Always confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.

Midwest · SD

Mount Rushmore State

How to get an apostille in South Dakota

In South Dakota, apostilles are issued by the South Dakota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille/Authentication. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a South Dakota apostille looks like.

Capital: Pierre
Governor (2026): Larry Rhoden
State flower: Pasque Flower
State bird: Ring-necked Pheasant

Apostille signed by South Dakota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille/Authentication

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

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

South Dakota apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	South Dakota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille/Authentication
State fee	$0–$10 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Pierre.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the South Dakota Secretary of State, in Pierre (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: South Dakota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille/Authentication — https://sdsos.gov/general-services/notaries-public/apostilles-authentications.aspxDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in South Dakota

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 Dakota.

Specimen

What a South Dakota apostille looks like

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

South Dakota apostille FAQ

How do I get an apostille in South Dakota?: Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the South Dakota Secretary of State in Pierre with the destination country and any fee.
Does South Dakota charge for an apostille?: Fees can be low or nominal in South Dakota. Always confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's page before mailing.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the South Dakota apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the South Dakota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille/Authentication 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 South Dakota 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.