Short answer. The Department of Financial Institutions (apostilles) and the Secretary of State's Certification Desk issues apostilles here for $10 per document, by mail and online. Standard 3 to 7 business days; expedited 1 to 2 business days, not counting mail time.
At a glance
- Issuing office
- Department of Financial Institutions (apostilles) and the Secretary of State's Certification Desk Official page
- Fee
- $10 per document. Expedited: $35 per document.
- How to submit
- Submit the original or certified documents with the request form; an online application with payment is available.
- Processing time
- Standard 3 to 7 business days; expedited 1 to 2 business days, not counting mail time.
- Request form
- Apostille Request Form Open it
- Mailing address
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, PO Box 7838, Madison, WI 53707-7838
What each document needs first
- Notarized documents
- Documents certified or issued by Wisconsin public officials or notaries; submit the original or certified document.
- Court records
- Documents certified by certain court officials.
- School records
- Documents signed by University of Wisconsin registrars or presidents are accepted (Secretary of State).
Checklist by document
- Vital record: county step not confirmed, 2 steps not confirmed
- Notarized document: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
- Court record: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
- FBI background check: no county step first
- School record: county step not confirmed, 1 step not confirmed
Worth knowing
Two offices are designated here: the Department of Financial Institutions issues apostilles, and for countries outside the Hague Convention the authentication comes from the Secretary of State, whose Certification Desk publishes its own instructions at the same fees. One request form per country.
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
- Apostille General Information, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (checked November 2026)
- Apostille Fees, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (checked November 2026)
- Authentication & Apostille Instructions, Wisconsin Secretary 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 Wisconsin?
The Department of Financial Institutions (apostilles) and the Secretary of State's Certification Desk. $10 per document.
Can a notarized document from Wisconsin be apostilled directly?
Documents certified or issued by Wisconsin public officials or notaries; submit the original or certified document.
How long does an apostille take in Wisconsin?
Standard 3 to 7 business days; expedited 1 to 2 business days, not counting mail time. Allow extra time for mail and for any certified copy you still need to order.
Can I get a Wisconsin apostille in person or online?
Submit the original or certified documents with the request form; an online application with payment is available.
What about a Wisconsin court record?
Documents certified by certain court officials.
How is a Wisconsin school record apostilled?
Documents signed by University of Wisconsin registrars or presidents are accepted (Secretary of State).
All states: how to get an apostille in each state · Washington