How to Get an Apostille in Minnesota

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

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Why does the Minnesota apostille have no gold seal?

The Minnesota apostille has no gold embossed seal because, since May 15, 2018, the Secretary of State issues a single authentication certificate printed in black ink instead. This throws people who expect the traditional raised gold seal and worry the document looks unofficial. It is not a problem: the format follows the model apostille certificate of the Hague Conference, and the security now comes from a unique file number and issue date printed on each certificate. You can confirm any apostille issued from that date forward on the Secretary of State's verification page using that file number, which is something a gold seal never allowed. So a plain black-ink certificate with a verifiable number is exactly what a current Minnesota apostille should look like.

Who issues apostilles in Minnesota?

Apostilles in Minnesota are issued by the Secretary of State in St. Paul. The office authenticates the signature and seal of a Minnesota notary or public official, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certification for the rest. It handles Minnesota documents only, so a document issued in another state must go to that state. Vital records such as birth and death certificates must be certified copies from the Minnesota Department of Health, and marriage certificates from the county where the license was issued. A private document such as a power of attorney, an affidavit, a diploma or a transcript generally needs notarization by a Minnesota notary first, and all signatures must be original rather than photocopies.

How much does a Minnesota apostille cost?

A Minnesota apostille costs $5 per document, among the lowest state fees in the country. If you go in person, you can pay by credit card, debit card, cash, check or money order; by mail, include a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. As always, the $5 is the state charge only, and any private service adds its own handling on top. Because Minnesota returns documents by regular mail by default, include a prepaid shipping label with tracking if you are sending originals you cannot easily replace. Fees are revised occasionally, so confirm the current one before filing.

How long does a Minnesota apostille take?

A Minnesota apostille depends on how you submit it and the office's current workload, and the fastest route is an in-person appointment at the St. Paul office, where documents can be handled during your visit. Mailed requests are processed in the order received, so the wait swings with volume and document type, and you should add mail transit in each direction on top. Because the estimate is not fixed, plan generously if a foreign deadline is firm, and use a trackable return label so you know when the finished apostille is on its way back. Both mail and in-person service use the same downtown St. Paul location.

Can Minnesota apostille an FBI background check?

No, Minnesota 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 St. Paul means it comes back unprocessed. The Minnesota Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Minnesota, such as a Minnesota birth certificate from the Department of Health or a power of attorney notarized by a Minnesota notary. Federal and out-of-state records are authenticated by their own offices, not this one.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Minnesota Secretary of State, Notary & Apostille (sos.mn.gov). Always double-check the current fee and mailing address before you send anything.