South Dakota documents are apostilled by the South Dakota Secretary of State in Pierre. If your document was issued in South Dakota, or notarized by a notary commissioned in South Dakota, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
South Dakota apostilles come from the Secretary of State in Pierre. At $25 a document it is among the most expensive states, though ten or more documents at once are capped at a flat $250.
We handle South Dakota orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in South Dakota when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
South Dakota documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | The South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records, or the county register of deeds | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The register of deeds | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | The South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records, or the county register of deeds | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, South Dakota notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | SD 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.
South Dakota-specific things worth knowing
- Ten or more documents cost a flat $250 at the state, which matters for larger corporate or family sets.
- The register of deeds in each county issues certified vital records too.
- The notary must be commissioned in South Dakota. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to SD 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 South Dakota, 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 SD Secretary of State
We submit to Pierre and pay the $25 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.
South Dakota Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Secretary of State, in Pierre. Documents issued in South Dakota, or notarized by a South Dakota notary, go there.
How much does a South Dakota apostille cost?
The state charges $25 ($250 flat for 10 or more). Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does South Dakota need a county certification first?
No. South Dakota certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can South Dakota 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 South Dakota. Can I still get a South Dakota 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 Pierre.
How long does a South Dakota 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.
South Dakota Secretary of State, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
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Related: Apostille by state · North Dakota apostille · Minnesota apostille · Iowa apostille · Federal apostille