Can I apostille my original diploma?

Usually not as-is. A diploma is signed by school officials, not public officials a Secretary of State can verify. The apostille goes on a notarized document about the diploma, such as a registrar's signed statement or a notarized copy where state law allows it.

Can I apostille a photocopy of my diploma?

Not a plain photocopy. Texas lets a Texas notary make a certified copy of a diploma, with a notarized statement from the issuer or signer. California says a photocopy isn't acceptable and its notaries can't certify diploma copies. Florida notaries can't attest copies of student records held by public schools.

How much does a diploma apostille cost?

The state fee is $15 in Texas, $20 in California (plus $6 per official's signature for in-person requests), and $10 in Florida. Add the school's fee for a duplicate or notarized statement, the notary fee, shipping, and any translation.

Do I need my diploma and transcript apostilled separately?

Often, yes. Each is a separate document and usually gets its own apostille. Ask the receiving school or agency which documents they need before you order duplicates.

Will my university do the notarization for me?

Many registrars prepare notarized diploma statements or copies for apostille on request, sometimes for a fee. Ask the registrar's office first; it's the most reliable route and the one Secretaries of State see most.

Can I use an online notary for my diploma?

Texas will apostille online (RON) notarizations if the packet includes the notary's ledger details and the correct online-notarization wording, but it warns some countries don't accept them. Check with the destination before you rely on one.

My destination country isn't in the Hague Convention. What changes?

The state still certifies the document first. Then you send it to the U.S. Department of State for an authentication certificate (Form DS-4194, $20 per document), and the destination country's embassy or consulate may need to legalize it.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is informational only. Rules change, so verify on the official Secretary of State pages linked below and with the receiving institution.

How to get an apostille on a U.S. diploma or degree

Updated 2026-10-24

A diploma isn't signed by a public official the way a birth certificate is, so a Secretary of State can't apostille it as-is. What gets apostilled is a notary's signature: a school official (or, in some states, you) signs a statement about the diploma in front of a notary, and the Secretary of State of the state where that notary is commissioned attaches the apostille. That single detail decides which office you use, what the packet has to contain, and why so many requests come back rejected. This guide covers the route that works, verified rules and fees for Texas, California, and Florida, and the mistakes to avoid. It's informational only and not legal advice.

Quick answer

What gets apostilled: a notarized document about your diploma, such as a registrar's signed statement or a notarized copy, not the bare diploma. Secretaries of State verify the notary's signature and commission, not your degree.
Who apostilles it: the Secretary of State (or equivalent) of the state where the notary is commissioned. In practice that's usually the state where the school is, because the registrar signs in front of a local notary.
Fees at the three states we've verified: Texas $15 per document, California $20 per apostille (plus $6 per official's signature in person), Florida $10 per document.
For countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, the state certifies the document first and the U.S. Department of State then adds an authentication certificate (Form DS-4194, $20 per document).
Plan on a diploma and a transcript as separate apostilles if the foreign school, employer, or licensing board wants both. See our transcript apostille guide for that document.

Step by step

1) Ask the receiving school, employer, or agency exactly what they want: the diploma, a transcript, or both, and whether they need a translation or credential evaluation. 2) Contact your school's registrar and ask whether they prepare notarized diploma statements or copies for apostille. Many large universities do this routinely; some charge a fee. 3) If the school won't, check whether your state lets a notary certify a copy, or lets you sign a sworn statement about the copy (see the table below). 4) Make sure the notarial certificate is complete: notary signature, seal, commission details, date, and the correct notarial wording. 5) Send the notarized document to the Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned, with that office's request form or cover sheet, the fee, and a return envelope. 6) For a non-Hague country, send the state-certified document on to the U.S. Department of State with Form DS-4194. Keep scans and use tracked shipping both ways.

Diploma apostille rules in Texas, California, and Florida

These are the states we've rebuilt with verified fees and addresses. Each state page has full mailing and walk-in details and current processing times.

State	What the Secretary of State accepts for a diploma	Fee	Rules that trip people up
Texas	Texas lists a copy of a diploma as a non-recordable document. It needs a typed or written statement from the issuer or signer summarizing its contents and intent, signed in front of a Texas notary with a full notarial certificate. A Texas notary may make a certified copy of a diploma because it isn't filed with a government office.	$15 per document, Texas Secretary of State Authentications Unit	Documents that say "Notario Publico," or where the notary makes statements on the signer's behalf, are rejected. Online (RON) notarizations need the notary's ledger entry and the right online-notarization wording, and some countries won't accept them.
California	The California Secretary of State apostilles a document signed by a California public official or an original notarized or certified document. A photocopy is not acceptable. In practice, that means a registrar or other school official signing a statement about the diploma in front of a California notary.	$20 per apostille by mail; in person, $20 plus a $6 special handling fee for each different official's signature	California notaries can certify copies only of powers of attorney (and their own journal), so a notary can't simply certify a diploma photocopy. The notarization must be in English; the rest of the document can be in another language.
Florida	Florida accepts documents notarized by a Florida notary with a full notarial statement in English. Its accepted-documents page is specific for transcripts: a public school or university transcript must be notarized and signed by the registrar or an issuing official, while a private school or university transcript can be a printed copy attested as a copy and signed by the student or custodian. For a diploma, follow the same notarized-statement approach and confirm with the Florida Department of State before mailing.	$10 per document, Florida Department of State	Florida notaries can't attest copies of public records, including student records kept in public education offices, so a public school or university document has to come from the school's own notarized signature, not a notarized copy you bring in.

Which state apostilles my diploma?

The apostille verifies the notary, so it comes from the state where the notary who notarized your packet is commissioned. If your Texas university's registrar signs a statement in front of a Texas notary, the Texas Secretary of State handles it, even if you now live in Florida. If you notarize a copy yourself in your current state, that state handles it, but only if its rules allow a notary there to certify or attest a copy of that kind of document (Florida, for example, doesn't allow it for records held by public schools). A Secretary of State can't apostille a notarization from another state.

Diplomas from federal schools

Documents issued by federal agencies are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not a Secretary of State. If your credential was issued by a federal institution rather than a state or private school, start with the Department of State's apostille requirements page and confirm which office signs your document.

Fees and timelines to budget

Beyond the state fee above, budget for the school's fee for a duplicate diploma or notarized statement (it varies by school, so check with the registrar), the notary fee, tracked shipping both ways, and a translation or credential evaluation if the destination requires one. Mail processing times change often; check the current processing-time notes on our Texas, California, and Florida pages or the official Secretary of State sites before you plan around a deadline. If you're short on time, Texas and California offer same-day in-person service and Florida has a walk-in counter in Tallahassee.

Common mistakes

Sending the original diploma or a plain photocopy with no notarization. Secretaries of State need an official or notarial signature to verify.
Getting it notarized in one state and mailing it to another state's Secretary of State.
An incomplete notarial certificate: missing seal, date, commission details, or the notarial wording.
Asking a notary to "certify" a copy in a state where that isn't allowed, such as California, or for a public school record in Florida.
Using a document with "Notario Publico" language, which Texas rejects.
Forgetting the transcript, translation, or credential evaluation the foreign school or board also asked for.
Mailing originals without tracking or a return envelope.

Related state guides

FAQ

Can I apostille my original diploma?: Usually not as-is. A diploma is signed by school officials, not public officials a Secretary of State can verify. The apostille goes on a notarized document about the diploma, such as a registrar's signed statement or a notarized copy where state law allows it.
Can I apostille a photocopy of my diploma?: Not a plain photocopy. Texas lets a Texas notary make a certified copy of a diploma, with a notarized statement from the issuer or signer. California says a photocopy isn't acceptable and its notaries can't certify diploma copies. Florida notaries can't attest copies of student records held by public schools.
Which state apostilles my diploma?: The state where the notary on your document is commissioned. That's usually the state where your school is, because the registrar signs in front of a local notary.
How much does a diploma apostille cost?: The state fee is $15 in Texas, $20 in California (plus $6 per official's signature for in-person requests), and $10 in Florida. Add the school's fee for a duplicate or notarized statement, the notary fee, shipping, and any translation.
Do I need my diploma and transcript apostilled separately?: Often, yes. Each is a separate document and usually gets its own apostille. Ask the receiving school or agency which documents they need before you order duplicates.
Will my university do the notarization for me?: Many registrars prepare notarized diploma statements or copies for apostille on request, sometimes for a fee. Ask the registrar's office first; it's the most reliable route and the one Secretaries of State see most.
Can I use an online notary for my diploma?: Texas will apostille online (RON) notarizations if the packet includes the notary's ledger details and the correct online-notarization wording, but it warns some countries don't accept them. Check with the destination before you rely on one.
My destination country isn't in the Hague Convention. What changes?: The state still certifies the document first. Then you send it to the U.S. Department of State for an authentication certificate (Form DS-4194, $20 per document), and the destination country's embassy or consulate may need to legalize it.
Is this legal advice?: No. This page is informational only. Rules change, so verify on the official Secretary of State pages linked below and with the receiving institution.

Official sources

State apostille offices

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