How to Get an Apostille in North Carolina

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

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Who issues apostilles in North Carolina?

Apostilles in North Carolina are issued by the Secretary of State's Authentications Office in Raleigh. The office authenticates the signature and seal of a North Carolina public official or notary on a document headed abroad, and it issues an apostille for Hague Convention countries or a certificate of authentication for the rest. As with every state, North Carolina only authenticates documents issued or notarized within the state; anything from another state must go to that state's own authority. A private document such as a power of attorney has to be notarized by a North Carolina notary before it can be authenticated, because the office is certifying the notary's commission.

How much does a North Carolina apostille cost?

A North Carolina apostille costs $10 per document as the state fee, paid by check or money order made out to the North Carolina Secretary of State. For adoption requests, a duplicate certified original may cost $5 when requested at the same time. Unlike most states, North Carolina treats the $10 as refundable in one situation: if the document is rejected and not processed, you can request the fee back, which is a small but genuine safeguard. The state fee is the government charge only, so a private service adds its own handling on top, usually the larger share of any flat rate quoted.

How long does a North Carolina apostille take?

A mailed North Carolina apostille is commonly processed in about five business days from receipt, not counting shipping in each direction. A walk-in at the Raleigh office may be handled the same day when the documents are correctly prepared, subject to workload. Emergencies can qualify for expedited handling, but the office asks for documentation of the emergency and decides case by case, so it is not a routine rush option. Because you are mailing original, hard-to-replace documents, use a trackable, barcoded return label rather than a handwritten one, which the office does not accept.

How do you get an apostille in North Carolina, step by step?

You complete the cover letter, submit the document with the $10 fee, and the Secretary of State returns it with the apostille attached. The route below is the standard process.

1. Check the document is North Carolina's: issued or certified in the state, or notarized by a North Carolina notary.
2. Notarize private documents first: a power of attorney or affidavit needs a North Carolina notary before submission.
3. Complete the cover letter: use the Authentication Office Cover Letter and name the destination country.
4. Submit with payment and return label: include $10 per document and a prepaid, barcoded return label.
5. Receive it: about five business days by mail, or same day for a correctly prepared walk-in.

Can North Carolina apostille an FBI background check?

No, North Carolina 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 the Raleigh office means it comes back unprocessed and you lose time. The Authentications Office handles North Carolina-issued or North Carolina-notarized documents only, such as a North Carolina birth certificate or a power of attorney signed before a North Carolina notary. A federal document, or one from another state, goes to its own issuing authority.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentications Division (Apostille Certificates, sosnc.gov). Prices and addresses are updated periodically, so verify them before sending.