Short answer. The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation issues apostilles here for $15 per document, by mail and in person. 5 to 7 business days after receipt by mail; walk-in requests while you wait.
At a glance
- Issuing office
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation Official page
- Fee
- $15 per document (not per page).
- How to submit
- By mail with the form or a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or walk in 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- Processing time
- 5 to 7 business days after receipt by mail; walk-in requests while you wait.
- Request form
- Request for Legalization of Documents form Open it
- Mailing address
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Apostilles & Certifications, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029
What each document needs first
- Vital records
- Death certificates must be signed by the state registrar; marriage certificates by the register of wills or clerk of the orphans' court. Birth certificates don't need notarization.
- Notarized documents
- Original documents, with the certificate of notarial act in English.
- School records
- Diplomas and transcripts must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public before the request.
Checklist by document
- Vital record: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
- Notarized document: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
- Court record: county step not confirmed, 2 steps not confirmed
- FBI background check: no county step first
- School record: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
Worth knowing
Send originals, not photocopies. The request can go with the office's form or a cover letter. The program page says to allow about two to three weeks for mailed documents (not counting mail time), while the service page says 5 to 7 business days; plan on the longer figure. Diplomas, transcripts and criminal record checks must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary first.
MCC Solutions handles New Jersey apostilles, and our guide explains how to get an apostille in New Jersey. For other states, this page lists the office's own process.
Official sources
- Get Official Document Authentication Through Certifications and Apostilles, Pennsylvania Department of State (checked November 2026)
- Certifications, Apostilles, and the Authentication of Documents, Pennsylvania Department of State (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice. Use the office's own request form where it has one. Federal records, including FBI checks, go to the U.S. Department of State, and a destination outside the Hague Convention also needs embassy legalization.
Common questions
Who issues apostilles in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation. $15 per document (not per page).
How do I apostille a Pennsylvania birth or marriage certificate?
Death certificates must be signed by the state registrar; marriage certificates by the register of wills or clerk of the orphans' court. Birth certificates don't need notarization.
Can a notarized document from Pennsylvania be apostilled directly?
Original documents, with the certificate of notarial act in English.
How long does an apostille take in Pennsylvania?
5 to 7 business days after receipt by mail; walk-in requests while you wait. Allow extra time for mail and for any certified copy you still need to order.
Can I get a Pennsylvania apostille in person or online?
By mail with the form or a cover letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or walk in 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
How is a Pennsylvania school record apostilled?
Diplomas and transcripts must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public before the request.
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