Illinois documents are apostilled by the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department in Springfield and Chicago. If your document was issued in Illinois, or notarized by a notary commissioned in Illinois, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
Illinois apostilles come from the Secretary of State’s Index Department, which has counters in both Springfield and Chicago. At $2 it is one of the cheapest state fees in the country.
Most Illinois vital records people send us come from a county clerk, very often Cook County, rather than the state. A certified county copy is fine; a plain photocopy or an uncertified print-out is not.
We handle Illinois orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in Illinois when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
Illinois documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | The Illinois Department of Public Health, or the county clerk | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The county clerk where the licence was issued | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | The Illinois Department of Public Health, or the county clerk | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, Illinois notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | IL Secretary of State | Certified copies, or notarized if company-issued |
| FBI check, IRS, USCIS | Federal agency | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Not sure which you have? Send it through the free review and we will tell you before you pay. No usable copy? We can order a certified copy.
Illinois-specific things worth knowing
- Two offices. The Index Department works out of Springfield and Chicago, which shortens turnaround for Chicago-area documents.
- Cook County records come from the Cook County Clerk, which is separate from the City of Chicago and from the state.
- The notary must be commissioned in Illinois. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to IL Secretary of State. An FBI background check, IRS letter or naturalization certificate is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. See federal apostille.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, book a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in Illinois, or have us retrieve a certified copy.
Step 2
We check it first
We confirm the copy is certified, correctly sealed, and notarized where needed, before any state fee is paid.
Step 3
Apostille from IL Secretary of State
We submit to Springfield and Chicago and pay the $2 state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
Illinois Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, in Springfield and Chicago. Documents issued in Illinois, or notarized by a Illinois notary, go there.
How much does a Illinois apostille cost?
The state charges $2. Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does Illinois need a county certification first?
No. Illinois certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can Illinois apostille it?
No. An FBI background check, IRS letter, USCIS document or federal court record carries a federal signature, so it goes to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., whichever state you live in. See federal apostille.
I live outside Illinois. Can I still get a Illinois apostille?
Yes. The state that issued the document decides the office, not where you live. Post it to us from anywhere and we submit it in Springfield and Chicago.
How long does a Illinois apostille take?
It depends on the state’s current queue plus shipping. See processing times for what we are seeing now, and ask about rush if you have a deadline.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
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Related: Apostille by state · Indiana apostille · Wisconsin apostille · Iowa apostille · Federal apostille