How to Get an Apostille in Georgia
Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority and can change. Confirm current details on the official gsccca.org page before you mail anything.
Georgia apostille cost and time calculator
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Who issues apostilles in Georgia?
Apostilles in Georgia are issued by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, the GSCCCA, in Atlanta, and it is the only agency in the state that can do so. This trips up nearly everyone, because in most states the Secretary of State handles apostilles. In Georgia the Secretary of State only issues a Great Seal Certification, which is for countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention. So if your document is headed to a Hague country, it goes to the GSCCCA; if it is headed to a non-Hague country, that is the one case for the Secretary of State. Sending an apostille request to the wrong office is the single most common Georgia mistake.
How much does a Georgia apostille cost?
A Georgia apostille costs $3 per document at the GSCCCA. Do not confuse it with the certification of notary public, a separate $2 service that is not used together with an apostille. Payment can be cash, a check or money order payable to GSCCCA, or a credit card, and the office runs a prepayment voucher system for couriers so they need not carry cash or write checks. As always, the state's $3 is only the government charge; a private service adds its own handling fee on top, which is the larger part of any flat rate you see quoted. Fees are revised occasionally, so confirm the current one before filing.
How long does a Georgia apostille take?
A Georgia apostille is fast: a walk-in at the Atlanta office usually takes under twenty minutes, depending on how many documents you bring, and a mailed request is normally processed in one to two business days once it arrives. That is quicker than most states, so Georgia rewards planning ahead only lightly. For mail, the return airbill matters: the GSCCCA requires FedEx or UPS return labels to be computer-generated and will not accept handwritten airbills, a small detail that causes avoidable rejections. Add transit time in each direction to the one to two business days of processing.
How do you get an apostille in Georgia, step by step?
You prepare the certified or notarized document, add a request letter, and submit it to the GSCCCA in Atlanta. The route below is the standard process.
- Get the right certified copy: vital records must be certified copies with the official's signature and seal, preferably issued since 2000.
- Notarize private documents first: a power of attorney or affidavit needs a Georgia notary before the GSCCCA can authenticate it.
- Add a request letter: name the destination country and include your contact details.
- Submit to the GSCCCA: walk in to the Atlanta office or mail with a prepaid, computer-generated return airbill.
- Receive it: under twenty minutes for walk-ins, or one to two business days by mail.
| Georgia apostille | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) |
| State fee | $3 per document |
| Walk-in | Usually under 20 minutes, no appointment (9:00 to 4:00, Mon-Fri) |
| Mail processing | Normally 1 to 2 business days from receipt |
| Address | GSCCCA, Attn: Notary Division, 1875 Century Blvd., Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30345 |
| Return airbill | FedEx or UPS labels must be computer-generated, not handwritten |
Can Georgia apostille an FBI background check?
No, Georgia cannot apostille an FBI background check, because a report signed and sealed by an FBI official is federal and goes to the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. There is a Georgia-specific wrinkle worth knowing: a statewide record check from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, if signed by a GBI official whose signature is witnessed by a notary, can be apostilled by the GSCCCA. So the answer turns on which agency issued the criminal record. Anything federal, including a consular report of birth abroad, leaves the state process entirely and goes to Washington.
Georgia apostille: frequently asked questions
- Who issues apostilles in Georgia?
- The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) in Atlanta, not the Secretary of State. It is the only Georgia agency that issues apostilles.
- How much does a Georgia apostille cost?
- The apostille fee is $3 per document at the GSCCCA. A certification of notary public, a separate service, is $2 and is not used with an apostille.
- How long does a Georgia apostille take?
- A walk-in at the Atlanta office usually takes under twenty minutes, while a mailed request is normally processed in one to two business days.
- Why does Georgia want documents issued after 2000?
- The GSCCCA matches the official's signature to records on file, and for documents issued before 2000 it may not have that signature, so a fresh certified copy is recommended.
- Can Georgia apostille an FBI background check?
- No. A signed and sealed FBI background check is federal and goes to the U.S. Department of State, not the GSCCCA.
By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (General Apostille Information, gsccca.org). Always double-check the current fee and mailing address before you send anything.