How to Get an Apostille in Nevada

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

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Nevada apostille cost and time calculator

Enter how many documents you have and the service level; the tool estimates the state fee, including expedite, and the usual processing window.

Can you get a same-day apostille in Las Vegas?

No, you can no longer get a same-day apostille at the Las Vegas state office, which is the update most guides still get wrong. As of late 2025, the Nevada Secretary of State stopped scheduling apostille appointments at the Las Vegas location at 1 State of Nevada Way; it now operates a drop box only, and every document left there is physically transported to Carson City for processing. For Las Vegas and Clark County residents that leaves two real options: use the mail-in process to Carson City, or drive to Carson City for in-person service, which is a long round trip across the state. Plan on Carson City handling the actual apostille regardless of where you drop the document.

Who issues apostilles in Nevada?

Apostilles in Nevada are issued by the Secretary of State, with the processing office in Carson City. The office authenticates the signature and seal of a Nevada notary or public official on a document headed to a Hague Convention country, and issues a certification for non-member countries. A certified copy of a Nevada vital record can go straight in, while a private document such as a power of attorney must be notarized by a Nevada notary first. Vital records themselves come from other offices first: birth and death certificates from Nevada Vital Records or a county health department, marriage certificates from the county clerk.

How much does a Nevada apostille cost?

A Nevada apostille costs $20 per document at the base rate, and the state runs a multi-tier expedite system on top of that. Commonly the tiers add $75 per document for 24-hour handling and $500 per document for 2-hour handling, with a still-faster emergency tier priced higher again. Payment is by money order or major credit card. The expedite fees are the state's own charges and are separate from anything a private courier or service adds. Because standard processing can be slow, the expedite tiers exist precisely for tight foreign deadlines. Confirm current fees before submitting, since they can change.

How long does a Nevada apostille take?

A standard Nevada apostille by mail has ranged from several business days to a few weeks, depending on the backlog in Carson City, so it is one of the less predictable states. Paid expedite shortens the state's own handling to 24 hours or 2 hours once the request is in fileable form, but note that all documents are returned by First Class Mail even when you pay to expedite, so return transit still adds days. If your deadline is firm, an expedite tier plus your own tracked outbound shipping is the combination that removes the most uncertainty.

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

You prepare the document, complete the order form, and submit it to Carson City with payment. The route below is the standard process.

1. Get the right document: a certified Nevada vital record, or a private document notarized by a Nevada notary.
2. Complete the order form: one Apostille/Certification Order Form can cover multiple documents; name the destination country.
3. Choose standard or expedite: pick a service level and include payment.
4. Submit to Carson City: mail or deliver there; Las Vegas drop-box documents are forwarded to Carson City.
5. Receive it: returned by First Class Mail, even when expedited.

Can Nevada apostille an FBI background check?

No, Nevada 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 Carson City means it comes back unprocessed and you lose time you may not have. The Nevada Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Nevada, such as a Nevada birth certificate or a power of attorney notarized by a Nevada notary. Whether federal or from another state, such documents go to their own authority.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Nevada Secretary of State (Apostille, nvsos.gov). These details shift over time, so confirm them with the state before you act.