Rhode Island documents are apostilled by the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services in Providence. If your document was issued in Rhode Island, or notarized by a notary commissioned in Rhode Island, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
Rhode Island apostilles come from the Department of State’s Business Services Division in Providence, at $5 a document. Like the rest of New England, Rhode Island keeps vital records with the city or town clerk as well as the state.
We handle Rhode Island orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in Rhode Island when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
Rhode Island documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | The city or town clerk, or the RIDOH Center for Vital Records | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The city or town clerk | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | The city or town clerk, or the RIDOH Center for Vital Records | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, Rhode Island notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | RI Department 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.
Rhode Island-specific things worth knowing
- City and town clerks issue certified vital records, alongside the state.
- The notary must be commissioned in Rhode Island. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to RI Department 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 Rhode Island, 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 RI Department of State
We submit to Providence and pay the $5 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.
Rhode Island Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services, in Providence. Documents issued in Rhode Island, or notarized by a Rhode Island notary, go there.
How much does a Rhode Island apostille cost?
The state charges $5. Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does Rhode Island need a county certification first?
No. Rhode Island certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. Can I still get a Rhode Island 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 Providence.
How long does a Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
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Related: Apostille by state · Massachusetts apostille · Connecticut apostille · Federal apostille