Arizona Apostille Services In Phoenix, AZ 85004
Here are trusted resources we reference when facilitating Apostilles and authentications:
Arizona Apostille Services: What to Expect
Quoting an apostille is case by case. Documents must be reviewed first to avoid rejection by a state office, embassy, or consulate.
Where it’s processed
Vital records must be apostilled by the state that issued them.
Federal documents are handled at the U.S. Department of State (some items may require an agency step first).
Online options
Some documents can be notarized online; apostille eligibility depends on state rules and the requirements of the receiving country.
Timing & fees
Each state sets its own fees and turnaround times. Some process same-day; others take longer.
Process
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Send documents (scan/upload or courier).
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Document check: requirements and the best route (state, federal, or embassy/legalization) are confirmed.
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Clear quote: pricing and an estimated timeline are provided before work begins.
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Processing: filing and tracking are handled start to finish.
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Return: certified documents are delivered back via pickup, delivery, or courier.
For out-of-state work, coordination is provided through Unlimited Ink Notary, ensuring trusted notaries and managed logistics.
Submit Your Apostille Service Quote Request
What Your Quote Includes
After documents are reviewed, an itemized quote is provided. When applicable, it may include:
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Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State fees
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Per-document filing fees
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Notary fees
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Courier/runner fees
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Shipping (FedEx/UPS/DHL)
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Management fee — starts at $50 and may be higher for larger or more complex orders
The objective is to provide the most cost-effective plan, with all costs approved before proceeding.
Documents Commonly Apostilled In Arizona
An Authorization Letter
An Authorization Letter is a written document that gives another person permission to act on your behalf for specific tasks—such as collecting documents, managing legal matters, handling financial transactions, or representing you abroad. When an authorization letter needs to be used internationally, it may require an apostille from the Arizona Secretary of State to verify its authenticity and the identity of the signer. To be eligible for apostille, the letter must be properly signed and notarized, and sometimes accompanied by a certified translation depending on the destination country’s requirements. I can assist you with the notarization and help ensure your authorization letter meets all requirements for international use.
Academic Documents
Academic documents such as diplomas, transcripts, and degrees often require an apostille when being submitted to a foreign country for employment, continued education, visa applications, or credential evaluations.
Documents commonly apostilled include:
High School or College Diplomas
Official Transcripts
Certificates of Enrollment or Graduation
Professional Certifications or Licenses
To be apostilled:
The documents must be certified by the school registrar’s office or notarized as a true copy. In Arizona, some institutions may issue a notarized letter directly, while others may require coordination with the County Health or Education Office before submission to the Arizona Secretary of State.
Background Checks (State, FBI)
A Background Check is an official report detailing an individual’s criminal history (or lack thereof). These are often required for employment, immigration, adoption, or residency applications abroad.
There are two common types of background checks used for apostille purposes:
Local Police Background Check – Issued by a city or county law enforcement agency
FBI Background Check – Issued at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Justice
In Arizona, local police or county sheriff’s background checks must first be notarized and then submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille. FBI background checks, however, are processed at the federal level and must be sent to the U.S. Department of State for apostille certification.
Birth Certificates
A birth certificate is one of the most commonly apostilled documents, often required for international use related to dual citizenship, marriage, education, or inheritance matters.
In Arizona, for a birth certificate to be eligible for an apostille, it must be a certified copy issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) – Office of Vital Records or by the County Vital Records Office in the county where the birth occurred. The document must be signed by an authorized public official, such as the State Registrar or County Registrar.
Before the Arizona Secretary of State can issue an apostille, they must verify the official’s signature on the certificate. Photocopies or hospital-issued birth certificates are not eligible for apostille processing.
Copy Of U.S. Passport
A copy of a U.S. Passport may require an apostille when it is being used for international legal, immigration, or identity verification purposes, such as marriage abroad, dual citizenship applications, or foreign residency.
Because the passport is a federal document, a copy must first be notarized as a true copy by an Arizona Notary Public. Once notarized, the document can be submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille certification. If the requesting country requires federal authentication instead, the notarized passport copy must be sent to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for federal-level apostille processing.
Death Certificates
A death certificate may require an apostille for use abroad in matters such as estate settlement, inheritance claims, life insurance, or transferring assets across international jurisdictions.
In Arizona, only certified copies of death certificates issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) – Office of Vital Records or the County Vital Records Office where the death was registered are eligible for apostille. The document must contain the original signature of a recognized public official, such as the State Registrar or County Registrar, whose signature is on file with the Arizona Secretary of State.
The Arizona Secretary of State will verify the official’s signature before issuing an apostille. Please note that photocopies or hospital-issued death certificates are not acceptable for apostille processing.
Corporate Documents
Corporate documents are legal records related to the formation, structure, and operation of a business entity. When a company plans to expand internationally, open foreign bank accounts, enter into overseas contracts, or establish a foreign branch, these documents often require apostille certification.
Common corporate documents that may need an apostille include:
Articles of Incorporation or Organization
Certificates of Good Standing
Operating Agreements or Bylaws
Board Resolutions
Business Licenses or Tax Certificates
To be apostilled:
The documents must be certified by the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Arizona Secretary of State, depending on the type of record. If the document has been notarized, it must be properly notarized by an Arizona Notary Public and then submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille processing.
Single Status Affidavit
A Single Status Affidavit is a sworn statement confirming that an individual is legally single and free to marry. This document is commonly required by foreign governments when a U.S. citizen plans to marry abroad or apply for certain residency or visa statuses.
To be apostilled, the affidavit must be:
Signed and notarized before an Arizona Notary Public.
Once notarized, it can be submitted directly to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille certification. Some countries may also require the affidavit to be translated or include additional consular legalization steps, depending on their specific requirements.
Travel Consent Letter
A Travel Consent Letter is a document signed by a parent or legal guardian giving permission for a minor child to travel—especially when the child is traveling alone or with only one parent, a relative, or another adult. This document is often required for international travel to prevent custody disputes or child abduction concerns.
To be accepted abroad, a travel consent letter may need to be:
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Notarized to verify the identity and intent of the signing parent(s)
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Apostilled if the destination country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention
A marriage certificate may require an apostille for international use, especially in matters related to name changes, immigration, spousal visas, dual citizenship, or legal recognition of marriage abroad.
In Arizona, only certified copies of marriage certificates issued by the County Clerk or Recorder’s Office where the marriage was recorded are eligible for apostille. The document must include the original signature and seal of a public official whose signature is on file with the Arizona Secretary of State.
The Arizona Secretary of State will verify the signature before issuing an apostille. Please note that photocopies, unofficial copies, or religious ceremony records are not acceptable for apostille processing.
Marriage Certificates
Name Change
A Name Change Document is a certified court order or legal record confirming that an individual has legally changed their name. This document is often required internationally for immigration, marriage, dual citizenship, inheritance, or to update identity documents abroad.
To be eligible for an apostille, the name change document must be:
A certified copy issued by the Arizona Superior Court or other authorized court.
It must then be submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille certification to verify the authenticity of the court official’s signature and seal.
Divorce Decree
A Divorce Decree is a final court judgment that legally ends a marriage and outlines the terms of the divorce, including property division, child custody, and support arrangements. When this document needs to be used in another country—for purposes such as remarriage, immigration, or legal recognition—it must be apostilled to confirm its authenticity.
In Arizona, the original or a certified copy of the divorce decree issued by the Arizona Superior Court is required to begin the apostille process. The document must be certified by the court clerk before being submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille certification.
Naturalization Certificate
A Naturalization Certificate is a federal document issued by the U.S. government to individuals who have become naturalized U.S. citizens. It serves as proof of citizenship and may need to be apostilled when used internationally for purposes such as dual citizenship, inheritance claims, or legal residency applications.
Because this is a federal document, it cannot be apostilled at the state level in Arizona. Instead:
You must request a Certified True Copy of the Naturalization Certificate from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Once certified, it must be submitted to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for federal apostille processing.
Police Report
A Police Report is an official document issued by a local law enforcement agency that details an incident, investigation, or interaction involving an individual. These reports may need to be apostilled for use abroad in matters involving immigration, insurance claims, legal disputes, or background checks.
To obtain an apostille for a police report in Arizona:
The report must be issued on official letterhead by the city police department or county sheriff’s office.
It must be notarized or accompanied by a sworn affidavit from the issuing agency verifying its authenticity.
Once notarized, the document can be submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State for apostille certification.
Frequently Asked Questions — Arizona Apostilles
An Apostille is a special certificate issued by the Arizona Secretary of State that verifies the authenticity of a public official’s signature on a document—such as a notary public, county clerk, or state registrar. If you plan to use your document in another country that’s part of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, this certification ensures it will be legally recognized abroad. The apostille confirms that the document was properly executed in Arizona and that the official’s signature and seal are genuine.
Issued by:
Arizona Secretary of State – Business Services Division
1700 W. Washington Street, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-6187How to Pronounce “Apostille”
The word apostille is pronounced uh-pos-TEEL, with the emphasis on the last part — TEEL. It comes from French, which is why the ending sounds smooth instead of “apostill” or “apost-eye.”So when you say it out loud, it should sound like:
uh-pos-TEEL (rhymes with “reveal”).(It comes from French, which is why the final “-ille” sounds like “-teel.”)
To obtain an apostille for a birth certificate, you’ll first need a certified copy of the record issued by the state’s vital records office. Only the state that originally issued the birth certificate can issue the apostille.
Here’s how the process works:
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Order a certified copy of the birth certificate from the state’s Department of Health or Vital Records Office. (It must have the raised or embossed seal and the current registrar’s signature.)
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Submit that certified copy to the Secretary of State’s office in the same state for an apostille request. The Secretary of State will verify the official’s signature and attach the apostille certificate.
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Once issued, the apostilled birth certificate is ready for use in any country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
If the document will be used in a country that is not part of the Hague Convention, you’ll need to request authentication instead of an apostille, followed by consular legalization through that country’s embassy or consulate.
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Yes. We routinely facilitate apostilles across all 50 states for both personal and corporate documents. Whether your record was issued in Arizona, California, Texas, or another state, we manage the correct routing and coordination with each Secretary of State’s office to guarantee legal acceptance abroad.
How Long Does It Take to Obtain an Apostille in Arizona?
In Arizona, the processing time for an apostille depends on how the request is submitted.-
In-person requests: Apostilles are usually processed the same day while you wait at the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office in Phoenix.
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By mail: The average processing time is typically 5 to 7 business days, plus mailing time to and from the office.
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Expedited courier service: If timing is critical, a courier or apostille facilitator can hand-deliver and retrieve the completed documents, often within 1 to 2 business days depending on volume and travel time.
The Arizona Secretary of State – Business Services Division handles all apostille requests:
1700 W. Washington Street, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-6187
Website: https://azsos.gov/services/apostilles-
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© 2025 By My Business Marketing Coach & Notary Stars
This Website May Contain Affiliate Links for Services I/We Can't Personally Render
© 2025 Detailed Notary. Operated by Tifini Vega, California Notary Public & Apostille Agent.