Who issues apostilles in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's apostilles and authentications are administered through the state's authentication office — verify the current administering agency on the official page, as Wisconsin's notary/authentication functions have shifted between offices.

How do I get an apostille in Wisconsin?

Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the Wisconsin authentication office in Madison with the fee and destination country.

Midwest · WI

The Badger State

How to get an apostille in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, apostilles are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / Secretary of State — Authentications & Apostilles. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Wisconsin apostille looks like.

Capital: Madison
Governor (2026): Tony Evers
State flower: Wood Violet
State bird: American Robin

Apostille signed by Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / Secretary of State — Authentications & Apostilles

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

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

Wisconsin apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / Secretary of State — Authentications & Apostilles
State fee	$10 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Madison.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Wisconsin apostille/authentication office in Madison (verify the current address and administering agency online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / Secretary of State — Authentications & Apostilles — https://www.wdfi.org/apostilles_certifications/Draft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin.

Specimen

What a Wisconsin apostille looks like

A Wisconsin apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / 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 Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / 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 Wisconsin. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Wisconsin apostille FAQ

Who issues apostilles in Wisconsin?: Wisconsin's apostilles and authentications are administered through the state's authentication office — verify the current administering agency on the official page, as Wisconsin's notary/authentication functions have shifted between offices.
How do I get an apostille in Wisconsin?: Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the Wisconsin authentication office in Madison with the fee and destination country.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Wisconsin apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions / 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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