Document authentication and apostille

The following Secretary of State offices offer document authentication and apostilles:

• Clinton Township
• Detroit - West Grand Boulevard
• Flint - Fenton Road
• Grand Rapids - 28th Street
• Lansing - East Michigan Avenue
• Livonia
• Marquette
• Pontiac
• Office of the Great Seal (Richard H. Austin Building 1st Floor, 430 W. Allegan Street, Lansing, MI)

Schedule an office visit

Before submitting your documents for authentication:

• Provide a written English translation if the document is written in a foreign language.
• Ensure all vital records are certified copies.
• Depending on the document type, documents must either be signed by an authorized official or notary public.

If the document must be notarized, ensure that the notary includes:

• Their full name
• Their signature
• The date of notarization
• Their commission expiration date
• Their county of commission
• The county of execution if different than county of commission

If you are mailing your documents for authentication, be sure to enclose a pre-addressed and stamped return envelope for the delivery of your authenticated documents.

• Apostille: Issued for documents intended for use only in foreign countries that are party to the Hague Treaty.
  
  
• Certificate of Authority: Issued for all other countries, many of which will only accept documents certified at both the state and federal levels. The original document must be signed in front of a notary public and must contain original signatures. As a reminder, a notary public cannot make a true copy statement in the State of Michigan.

The Office of the Great Seal is authorized on behalf of the State of Michigan to certify and issue Certificates of Authority for:

• Michigan Notary Public notarized documents (documents must be complete and contain original signatures)
• Certified copies of vital records (birth, marriage, divorce, or death) from:
  • The Michigan State Registrar
  • A Michigan county clerk
  • City clerks in Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties
• Certified Copies of Articles of Incorporation issued from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Documents issued by court clerks or received via fax are not acceptable.

An apostille has the same requirements, the same fee, and the same instructions as a Certificate of Authority. Apostilles cannot be issued for use in the United States.

The apostille is a creation of an international treaty, the Hague Convention of 1961. The United States of America joined the Hague Convention in 1981. The Convention provides for, among other things, the certification of public documents to be used in countries that have joined the Convention. In accordance with the provisions of the Convention, this office issues apostilles only for documents intended for use in foreign countries that also are signatories of the Convention. This document is the equivalent of a Certificate of Authority used in countries that are not participants in the Hague Treaty.

Please send the following:

1. Document(s) to be authenticated.
2. Cover letter including country of destination.
3. Check or money order payable to the State of Michigan. (Fee is $1.00 per document, please do not send cash.)
4. Self-addressed, stamped envelope or pre-paid air bill completely filled out including the account number and your address as the Sender. (The Great Seal will not pay for return postage.)
5. All documents in foreign text that are presented for authentication are required to have all elements of the notarization in English.

• If sending documents by mail with courier service, such as Airborne Express, Federal Express and UPS.
  • You must list yourself as the sender and receiver on the courier return air bill.
  • U.S. Post Office express or priority mail may not be delivered to the Office of the Great Seal any faster than regular U.S. mail. Turn-around time is 1-2 weeks.