How to Get an Apostille in Maine

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

Estimate your cost and time ↓

Maine apostille cost and time calculator

Enter how many documents you have and how you will submit them; the tool estimates the state fee and the usual processing window for that route.

Why does Maine reject apostille requests?

The most common reason Maine rejects an apostille request is a notary error, and specifically the lack of a notarial statement on the document. A notarial statement is the wording, usually at the end, that describes what the notary did when witnessing the signature; the two standard forms are the jurat and the acknowledgment. If that wording is missing, the Secretary of State cannot authenticate the notarization and the request comes back unprocessed. So before you send anything, confirm the document actually carries a complete jurat or acknowledgment, not just a notary stamp and signature. This single check prevents the delay that trips up most first-time Maine applicants.

Who issues apostilles in Maine?

Apostilles in Maine are issued by the Secretary of State through the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions in Augusta. The office authenticates the signature and seal of a Maine notary or public official, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certification for the rest. It handles Maine documents only, including those signed by town clerks, local registrars of vital statistics, court clerks and state agency commissioners. Like other New England states, Maine keeps vital records at the town or city where the event happened, as well as with the state, so a certified birth or marriage certificate can come from either, provided the signing clerk is current in the state's records.

How much does a Maine apostille cost?

A Maine apostille costs $10 per special certification, and a document may contain several pages under that one fee. Payment must be made to the Secretary of State in U.S. funds, by check, money order or credit card. Federal documents are different: those are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State at its own, higher fee, not by Maine. As everywhere, the $10 is the state charge only, and you pay separately for the certified copy and return shipping; a private service adds its own handling on top. Before submitting, make sure the fee is still current.

How long does a Maine apostille take?

A Maine apostille takes about 10 to 15 business days to process, and there is no while-you-wait service, so plan ahead rather than counting on a quick counter visit. Drop-off service is available, but the document is still processed within that window rather than on the spot. For a batch of more than five documents, Maine now asks you to call and book an appointment so the office can handle the volume in a timely manner. Add mail transit in each direction, and include a prepaid return label, since Maine returns your document by whatever method you provide.

Can Maine apostille an FBI background check?

No, Maine cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending a federal report to Augusta means it comes back unprocessed. The Maine Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Maine, such as a Maine birth certificate from a town clerk or the state, or a power of attorney notarized by a Maine notary with a complete notarial statement. A federal document, or one from another state, goes to its own issuing authority.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, Authentications and Apostilles (maine.gov). Prices and addresses are updated periodically, so verify them before sending.