Frequently Asked Questions:
Missouri Apostille and Authentication Services
General Questions
- What is a Missouri Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
- How can I obtain an Apostille Stamp to certify a document in Missouri for use abroad?
- How do I legalize documents issued in Missouri for submission to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention?
- How long does it take to obtain an apostille from Missouri?
- What documents can be certified in Missouri with an Apostille Stamp?
- Will an apostille stamp from Missouri be accepted abroad?
- Where can I find more information about certifying Missouri documents?
- Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Missouri Attestation and Apostille Services?
Birth, death and marriage certificates
Corporate documents
Criminal record certificates
Academic documents
Answers
What is a Missouri Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
A Missouri Apostille is a certificate that is affixed by the Missouri Secretary of State to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized Missouri public official and confirms the capacity of that official (e.g. State Registrar, notary public).
Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Missouri document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in the United States (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the 
Hague Apostille Convention
For more information on Apostilles, see:
How can I obtain an Apostille Stamp to certify a document in Missouri for use abroad?
Apostille Stamps to authenticate Missouri documents can be obtained from the Secretary of State. Apostille stamps are only valid for documents that are required for submission to countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention
How do I legalize documents issued in Missouri for submission to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention?
Missouri documents that need to be authenticated for non-apostille countries (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar) must be authenticated by the Missouri Secretary of State with an Authentication Certificate and then attested by the recipient country's embassy in the United States. Most embassies will also require an additional authentication the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC.
How long does it take to obtain an apostille from Missouri?
Missouri Apostilles are normally obtained from the Secretary of State in 3-5 business days
What documents can be certified in Missouri with an Apostille Stamp?
Missouri apostilles can be issued to authenticate state public documents, including birth and death certificates (issued by the Bureau of Vital Records), Certified Statements Relating to Marriage (issued by the Bureau of Vital Records), certified copies of Marriage certificates (issued by a Recorder of Deeds), Divorce certificates (certified copy from the Circuit Clerk of the county where the divorce is recorded), High School and University diplomas and transcripts (notarized by a school official), State Criminal Record Certificates (issued and notarized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol), Certificates of Good Standing, Articles of Organization, Certificates of Fact, and other documents, such as powers of attorney, certified by a Missouri notary.
To confirm whether your Missouri document is valid for an Apostille Stamp, please Contact us for a free document check.
Will an apostille stamp from Missouri be accepted abroad?
If documents are required for submission to the authorities or consulate of a signatory country of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille stamp affixed by the Secretary of State of Missouri will generally be recognized directly as confirming authenticity, although a certified translation may also be required if presenting to a country that does not have English as an official language.
If documents are required for presentation in a country that is not a signatory to the apostille convention (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Taiwan, Vietnam), then an apostille stamp is not valid. Documents will need to be authenticated at State level in Missouri, then by the State Department Authentication Division, and finally by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the United States. A Certified Translation may also be required.
Where can I find more information about certifying Missouri documents?
For further information about Missouri apostilles and authentications or to obtain a quote for assistance submitting your documents, with free eligibility pre-check, international collection and delivery by courier, please Contact us or send us your documents using our Online Quotation Form.
Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Missouri Attestation and Apostille Services?
You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:
How can I obtain an apostille on a vital record certificate issued in Missouri?
Missouri birth, death and marriage certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Missouri Secretary of State when issued by the Bureau of Vital Records. Marriage certificates can also be issued by the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the marriage was registered. Notarized copies of vital record certificates are not valid for an Apostille.
For further information about Missouri Apostilles, please see:
Apostille Missouri Vital Records
How can I get an Apostille on a Missouri Certificate of Good Standing?
Missouri Certificates of Good Standing (digital and paper certificates) can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Missouri Secretary of State.
How can I obtain an apostille on a background check from Missouri?
Missouri criminal record certificates can be authenticated with an Apostille from the Missouri Secretary of State. Certificates must be issued and notarized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol
How can I authenticate Missouri university degree certificates for use abroad?
Missouri university diplomas and transcripts can be authenticated with an Apostille stamp from the Missouri Secretary of State. Diplomas and transcripts must be notarized by the university registrar or other authorized official.
For information about notarizing diplomas and transcripts, see:
Missouri university degree certificates, course transcripts and high school diplomas can also be authenticated as notarized copies. A true copy is certified by a notary (this can often be done from a scan without having to submit the original) and then authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Washington DC Secretary of State. Authenticated documents can also be attested by the embassies of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
For further information, see:
University Degrees and School Records
How can I get a quote to certify my documents?
To receive a quote, you can upload your documents using our online quotation form or send us your documents by email. After reviewing your documents and requirements, we will get back to you with a quotation:
If you don’t have the documents available, just describe the documents you need to certify, and we will get back to you with an estimation of cost and delivery times.
Using our quotation form, your documents will be uploaded over a secure connection and immediately encrypted on our server. For added protection, you can upload password-protected files and provide us with the passwords separately:
PDF,
PERSONAL DATA: If your documents contain personal data belonging to people outside your household, please ensure that you are authorised to share this data before uploading your documents. If your documents contain sensitive personal data, such as biometric data, medical data or data on criminal convictions, please ensure that you indicate this when prompted, upon submitting your documents. For further information on our processing of personal data contained in uploaded documents, please see:
Privacy Policy (Customer Inquiries)
For further information on confidentiality in our handling of document content please see:
Confidentiality (Client Content)