How to Get an Apostille in Arkansas

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the Arkansas Secretary of State and can change. Confirm current details on the official sos.arkansas.gov page before you mail anything.

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Arkansas apostille cost and time calculator

Choose whether your destination country is in the Hague Convention and how many documents you have; the tool applies the right fee and estimates the total.

Who issues apostilles in Arkansas?

Apostilles in Arkansas are issued by the Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services Division, known as BCS, which is the designated competent authority and the only Arkansas office that may issue apostilles and certifications for documents used abroad. It authenticates the signature, seal and official capacity on documents issued or notarized in Arkansas, but it holds documents to strict standards and will not authenticate anything that does not comply. As in every state, Arkansas only handles its own documents; anything issued elsewhere goes to that state. A private document such as a power of attorney must be notarized by an Arkansas notary before BCS can authenticate it.

Do you need an apostille or a certification in Arkansas?

You need an apostille if the destination is a Hague Convention country, and a certification if it is not, and that choice sets the fee. An apostille costs $10 per document and a certification costs $5, and the Arkansas request form makes you pick one or the other, not both. It is the requesting party's responsibility to determine which the receiving country requires, so confirm the country's status before you submit; sending the wrong type means the document may be rejected abroad. When in doubt, ask the agency, court or employer overseas that asked for the document which one they expect.

How much does an Arkansas apostille cost?

An Arkansas apostille costs $10 per document for Hague Convention countries, while a certification for non-member countries costs $5 per document. Pay by check or money order from a U.S. bank made out to the Arkansas Secretary of State, or authorize a credit or debit card on the request form. The fee is the state's charge only, and a private service adds its own handling on top. Because the amount hinges on the destination, the calculator above sets it for you once you say whether the country is in the convention. Confirm the current fees before submitting, since they can change.

How do you get an apostille in Arkansas, step by step?

You confirm which certificate you need, complete the request form, and submit the document with the right fee. The route below is the standard process.

1. Check the document is Arkansas's: issued in Arkansas or notarized by an Arkansas notary.
2. Decide apostille or certification: based on whether the destination country is a Hague member.
3. Complete the request form: choose the one fee that applies and name the destination country.
4. Submit with payment: mail or walk in to the Little Rock or Fayetteville office with a return envelope.
5. Receive it: BCS attaches the apostille or certification and returns it to you.

Can Arkansas apostille an FBI background check?

No, Arkansas cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Mailing a federal report to Little Rock means it comes back unprocessed. The BCS Division authenticates documents issued or notarized in Arkansas, such as an Arkansas birth certificate or a power of attorney notarized by an Arkansas notary. Federal documents and those from other states each go back to their own authority.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division (Apostille and Certification, sos.arkansas.gov). Confirm the current fee and where to mail it before you proceed.