Apostille & Authentication
Apostilles and authentication certificates verify signatures, stamps, or seals on important documents.
Book An Appointment
Apostilles and authentication certificates are available by appointment only. Schedule online or call our office to book your appointment.
Schedule An Appointment
Download the Apostille & Authentication Form:
English Version  |   Formulario de Apostilla en Español
Office Hours
Monday — Friday:
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Appointments are unavailable between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
What is an Apostille or Authentication?
Apostilles and authentication certificates are both ways of certifying that U.S. documents are genuine and can be legally recognized in another country. These documents can include court orders, contracts, vital records, educational diplomas, and more.
The country you will use the document in determines whether you will need an apostille or an authentication certificate.
Apostille
An apostille is a form of certification set out in the 1961 Hague Convention, to which the United States is a subscriber. It is a form of numbered fields, which allow data to be understood by the receiving country regardless of the language used by the issuing country.
Here is a listing of countries that follow the Hague Legalization Convention.
Authentication
An authentication is the certification used for countries who do not follow the Hague Convention standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Request Form for Apostilles or Authentications?
Here is the Request Form for Apostilles or Authentications [PDF]
How do I get to the Mexican Consulate in Boise?
The Mexican Consulate is located at
454 W. Washington St.
Boise, ID 83702
A google map is provided below for directions.
¿Hay información en español?
Where do I send FBI Clearance Letters?
FBI Clearance Letters must go to the US State Department Authentications Office. Their address is:
Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure Cir
PO Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206
(202) 485-8000
U.S. State Department – Office of Authentications Website
What kind of documents do I need an apostille (or authentication) for?
An apostille (or authentication) is used as transmittal on public documents executed in one subscribing country which are being sent to another subscribing country. The Hague Convention defines public documents as:
- those originating in a court, clerk of a court, public prosecutor or process server,
- administrative documents,
- notarial acts,
- official certificates placed on documents
A few examples of these public documents would include:
- birth or death certificates
- marriage licenses
- divorce decrees
- school transcripts
- school diplomas or degrees
School documents must be signed by a school official and notarized.
It is important to note that the Idaho Secretary of State can authenticate only documents issued by Idaho officials or notarized by Idaho Notaries.
Who issues apostilles (or authentications) and how do I get one?
Each subscribing nation designates which authorities may issue apostilles for their jurisdiction. The United States has appointed the Secretary of State (or their counterpart) in each state as said authority. The Secretary of State of Idaho has expanded this authority in Idaho to include his Deputy Secretaries of State and the Secretary of State’s Notary Clerks.
A request for an apostille (or authentication) may be made in person or by mail. Requests are processed by the Notary Division of the Secretary of State’s office. The mailing address for requests is:
Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Notary Department
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0080
For requests sent to us by overnight mail, the street address is:
Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: Notary Department
450 N 4th Street
Boise ID 83702
What do I send?
- You must send the document to which you wish to attach an apostille or authentication. The document must be a certified copy or an original notarized document, notarized by an Idaho Notary Public.
- You must send the Apostille/Authentication Request form, plus a statutory fee of $10.00 per document that you wish to have apostilled or authenticated. Checks or money orders must be made payable to “Secretary of State”. You may also pay by credit card.
- You must provide the name of the country to which the documents will be sent. This insures that we provide you with the appropriate certification format for the receiving country.
- If overnight service is required a pre-addressed, pre-paid airbill must be enclosed with the request.
I am a foreign exchange student and I need to provide my home country with my school transcript. What do I do?
- Have your school notarize your transcript. Only your school can provide this notarization.
- Submit the notarized transcript and the Idaho Apostille/Authentication Request Form to the Idaho Secretary of State.
- Submit a fee of $10.00 per document that you wish to have apostilled or authenticated.
My document was notarized by a notary in another state. Can the Idaho Secretary of State still provide the apostille or authentication?
No. You will need to contact the Secretary of State in the state where the notarization took place.
How long does it take to get an apostille (or authentication)?
Apostille and Authentications are by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment online, or call (208) 334-2301.
Appointment hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Appointments cannot be made between the hours of 12:00pm to 2:00pm.
Depending on how many documents you have, you may need to leave your documents and return at a later time to pick them up.
If paying with cash, please do not bring large denomination bills. We keep a limited amount of cash on hand to make change.
If you are mailing in your document(s) and you are on a deadline, be sure to allow for mailing AND processing time.
Requests are processed daily as received. Your document(s) and apostille (or authentication) will be returned to you by first-class mail.
If overnight service is required a pre-addressed, pre-paid air bill must be enclosed with the request.
If I have more than one document issued by the same authority, do I need an apostille (or authentication) for each one?
Other States
The National Association of Secretaries of State has links to apostille and authentication information in all states.
hoto CaptionPhoto: Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho.