Louisiana Apostille Guide — How to Authenticate Documents

Who issues Louisiana apostilles?

The Louisiana Department of State (Secretary of State) issues apostilles and certificates of authentication for State of Louisiana documents. An apostille verifies the signature and capacity of a Louisiana official so the document is recognized in countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention; a Certificate of Authentication does the same job for countries that are not Hague members, which may then require further legalization by that country's embassy or consulate. The Commissions Division certifies signatures it has on file for Louisiana officials such as notaries public, clerks of court and deputy clerks, ex-officio notaries, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, judges, justices of the peace, and the registrar of vital records. It also certifies official transcripts and diplomas signed by Louisiana state-accredited university registrars, presidents, deans, and similar school officials. Louisiana cannot apostille federal documents such as FBI background checks, IRS records, or U.S. passports; those go to the U.S. Department of State. Documents issued or notarized in another state go to that state's Secretary of State. An apostille only authenticates the signature and seal on the document; it does not certify the content and cannot be used for recognition inside the United States.

Getting the right signature on your document

This is the step that decides whether a Louisiana request is accepted. You must submit the original document that needs legalization. Documents issued by Louisiana clerks of court and by the Louisiana Department of Vital Records do not have to be notarized for legalization, but photocopies of those records are not accepted—order a certified birth or death certificate from Vital Records when you need one. Documents that are not issued with a certification, or that are certified by someone whose signature is not on record with the Louisiana Secretary of State, must be notarized by a Louisiana notary public. Notarized documents must fully comply with Louisiana notary law or they will be returned for correction; the printed name of the notary and their notary identification number must appear beneath their signature. Business formation and Commercial Division filings that need overseas authentication follow a related path through the Commercial Division and are covered separately on the Secretary of State site.

Typical steps

1) Order or prepare the document: a certified vital record from the Louisiana Department of Vital Records, a certified clerk-of-court record, a diploma or transcript signed by an eligible Louisiana school official, or a document properly notarized by a Louisiana notary with printed name and notary ID under the signature. 2) Confirm the destination country so the office knows whether to issue an apostille or a Certificate of Authentication. 3) For mail-in, complete a written request (the state provides an authentication request form) naming the destination country and a daytime telephone number, and prepare a prepaid return envelope or completed courier return label that does not list the Secretary of State's address as the return-to address. 4) Include the original document and the fee of $20 per document ($10 per document if the content is related to an adoption and you can provide corroborating evidence if asked). 5) Walk the package in to 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, during walk-in hours, or mail it: USPS to Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125; FedEx, UPS, or DHL to Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

Walk-in vs mail vs courier

Walk-in is Louisiana's fastest path for people who can get to Baton Rouge: the Commissions Division processes walk-in documents Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on state holidays and office closures, at 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Mail-in is accepted and is often the best option for clients outside the capital area, but you must include a written request with the destination country and a daytime phone number plus a prepaid mailing envelope or completed return label—the office does not pay for return courier service. Use the P.O. Box for USPS and the Archives Avenue street address for FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Because return shipping is on you, a tracked prepaid label is the practical way to know when originals are coming back. A courier or apostille service helps with multi-document batches, clients overseas, notary corrections, vital-record ordering, and non-Hague destinations that need embassy legalization after the Louisiana certificate.

Fee and timeline estimates

Treat these as estimates and verify on the official Louisiana Secretary of State Apostilles & Authentications page before you send originals. The state fee is $20 per document for a standard apostille or Certificate of Authentication, and $10 per document when the content is related to an adoption (the office may require corroborating evidence). Walk-in requests are processed during the same visit window when the office is open; mail-in turnaround depends on receipt date, office workload, and how you prepaid the return, so a full mail round trip commonly runs about one to two weeks or more. Budget separately for the certified vital record or court copy, any notary fee, the state fee, outbound tracked postage, a prepaid return label, courier fees, and embassy legalization for non-Hague countries. Fees, forms, and addresses can change, so confirm on sos.la.gov.

When an expedited courier helps

Louisiana does not publish a separate paid rush tier for Commissions Division apostilles beyond the walk-in window itself. If you cannot get to Archives Avenue, a local courier can walk your documents in during the 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. service hours and send them back overnight, which is usually the quickest route for out-of-state and overseas clients. Couriers and apostille services are most useful when a notarization still needs correction (printed name and notary ID), when you have several documents from different parishes, for consular or visa deadlines, overseas job or university start dates, international adoption files (where the $10 adoption fee may apply), and corporate packages headed to non-Hague countries that also need embassy legalization. Compare turnaround quotes, insurance for originals, and whether the $20 (or $10) state fee is listed separately from the service fee.

Expedited courier options (Louisiana)

All listings below are EXAMPLE placeholders — not real companies or phone numbers.

• EXAMPLE — Baton Rouge Archives Ave Document Courier

  EXAMPLE placeholder — not a real company.

  Baton Rouge / East Baton Rouge Parish (EXAMPLE)

  • SOS walk-in drop-off / pickup
  • Overnight return shipping
  • Multi-document batches

• EXAMPLE — Bayou State Apostille Assist

  EXAMPLE placeholder — not a real company.

  Louisiana statewide / New Orleans / Baton Rouge / Lafayette / out-of-state clients (EXAMPLE)

  • Vital record ordering help
  • Notary compliance review
  • Parish document runs
  • Embassy legalization referral

FAQ

How much does a Louisiana apostille cost?

The Louisiana Secretary of State charges $20 per document for a standard apostille or Certificate of Authentication, or $10 per document when the content is related to an adoption. Certified copies, notary fees, shipping, prepaid return labels, and any courier or embassy fees are extra. Confirm the current fee on sos.la.gov before you send payment.

How long does a Louisiana apostille take?

Walk-in requests at 8585 Archives Ave. in Baton Rouge are processed Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays). Mail-in timing depends on transit plus office processing and your prepaid return method; plan roughly one to two weeks for a typical mail round trip.

Why was my Louisiana notarized document rejected?

Notarized documents must fully comply with Louisiana notary law. The printed name of the notary and their notary identification number must appear beneath their signature, or the document is commonly returned for correction.

Where do I send documents for a Louisiana apostille?

For USPS: Louisiana Secretary of State, Commissions Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. For FedEx, UPS, or DHL (and for walk-in): 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Mail-in packages must include a written request naming the destination country and a daytime phone number, plus a prepaid return envelope or label.

Can Louisiana apostille an FBI background check or a photocopy of a birth certificate?

No to both. FBI background checks and other federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State. Photocopies of clerk-of-court and Vital Records documents are not accepted; order a certified original from Vital Records when you need a birth or death certificate apostilled.

What is the difference between an apostille and a Certificate of Authentication in Louisiana?

Both verify a Louisiana official's signature and capacity. An apostille is for countries in the 1961 Hague Convention; a Certificate of Authentication is for countries outside it, which often require an additional embassy or consulate legalization step.