How to Get an Apostille in Missouri

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

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Missouri 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.

Can you get a same-day apostille in Missouri?

Yes, Missouri offers same-day apostilles to anyone who walks in, with no appointment, and the office often completes a request in under thirty minutes. The Commissions Division at 600 W. Main Street in Jefferson City accepts documents at the counter during regular business hours and processes them while you wait, which puts Missouri among the quickest states for in-person service. This is the option to choose when a deadline is tight and you can reach the state capital. If you cannot travel there, the mail route is straightforward too, just slower, so the walk-in speed is really about convenience for those nearby rather than a requirement.

Who issues apostilles in Missouri?

Apostilles in Missouri are issued by the Secretary of State through the Commissions Division in Jefferson City, the only office in the state able to issue them. It verifies the credentials of the notary or state official who signed your document against its database of active commissions, then issues an apostille for Hague Convention countries or a certification for the rest. It handles Missouri documents only, so a document from another state goes to that state. Vital records such as birth and death certificates must be certified copies from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records or a county office, while a private document such as a power of attorney must be notarized by a Missouri notary first.

How much does a Missouri apostille cost?

A Missouri apostille costs $10 per document, regardless of how many pages the document contains. Payment is by check or money order payable to the Missouri Secretary of State, or by card if you apply in person. As always, the $10 is the state charge only, and any private service adds its own handling fee on top. Include a cover letter that names the destination country, since the office issues an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a plain certification for those outside it, and getting that wrong can send the document back. Look up the latest fee before paying, as the amount can change.

How long does a Missouri apostille take by mail?

A Missouri apostille by mail is commonly processed in about three to five business days once the Commissions Division receives it, not counting mail transit in each direction. To keep the return trip predictable, include a self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid express label with tracking; without a prepaid tracked label the office returns your document by regular mail. Consider the mailing time both to and from Jefferson City when you plan around a foreign deadline. If speed matters more than convenience, the same-day walk-in option remains the fastest route in this state.

Can Missouri apostille an FBI background check?

No, Missouri 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 Jefferson City means it comes back unprocessed. The Missouri Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Missouri, such as a Missouri birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Records or a power of attorney notarized by a Missouri notary. A record from another state, or a federal one, is handled where it was issued.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Missouri Secretary of State, Commissions Division (Notary & Apostille, sos.mo.gov). Check the latest fee and address with the state before relying on these details.