FAQs
Browse the FAQs below for quick answers about processing times, appointments, and other important details to help you prepare your request.
Document Fees
Authenticating a document means authenticating a public official’s signature on the document and the document’s origin. If your request includes multiple documents, the law requires our Office to track and apply a specific $5 fee for documents that share the exact same signer.
If your request has multiple documents for authentication, please use the following guidelines to fill out your request form correctly:
- First Document: Select the standard base fee for your submission method ($20 for In-Person paper, $5 for Mail-In paper, or $74.95 for Digital).
- Subsequent Documents with the SAME Signer: If any additional documents are signed by the exact same Utah notary public or the exact same Utah official (County Clerk, Vital Records Registrar, Judicial Clerk, etc.), you must mark these as "Same Signer" / "Same Purpose".
- Subsequent Documents with UNIQUE Signers: If your additional documents are signed by different officials, list them under the standard base fee for your submission method
In-person request example:
Scenario A: 5 in-person documents (2 signed by the same official, and 3 signed by different officials)
- $20 (first document with the same signer, in-person authentication fee)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 2nd document)
- $20 (unique signer, in-person fee)
- $20 (unique signer, in-person fee)
- $20 (unique signer, in-person fee)
- Total = $85
Scenario B: 3 documents presented in-person, all signed by the exact same Utah Notary Public
- $20 (first document, in-person fee)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 2nd document)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 3rd document)
- Total = $30
Scenario C: 2 documents presented in-person, each signed by a different Judicial Clerk
- $20 (first document, unique signer in-person fee)
- $20 (second document, unique signer in-person fee)
- (Because the signers are different, the $5 "same purpose" fee does not apply).
- Total = $40
Mail-in request example:
Scenario A: 3 documents, all signed by the exact same Utah Notary Public.
- $5 (first document)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 2nd document)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 3rd document)
- Total = $15
Scenario B: 4 documents in total—2 signed by the County Clerk, and 2 signed by the Vital Records Registrar.
- $5 (first document signed by the County Clerk)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 2nd County Clerk document)
- $5 (first document signed by the Vital Records Registrar)
- $5 (same purpose from same public official fee for the 2nd Registrar document)
- Total = $20
Scenario C: 2 documents, each signed by a different Judicial Clerk.
- $5 (first document, unique signer)
- $5 (second document, unique signer)
- (Because the signers are different, the "same purpose" fee does not apply).
- Total = $10
| Service Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| In-Person, Same-Day Document | $20 per document |
| "Same Signer" Volume Discount Applies if 2 or more documents are signed by the same public official or notary. |
$5 for each additional document (after the first document) |
| Mail-In Paper Document (Not same-day) | $5 per document |
| Electronic Document (Available July 9) | $5 per document |
| Adoption Document | $5 per document |
General Authentications
An Apostille is a certificate issued by the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office that verifies the origin of a public document for use in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. If the country is not a Hague member, it acts as a Certificate of Authentication.
Utah uses a single certificate to cover both scenarios:
If the destination country is a Hague member, it acts as an Apostille.
If the country is not a Hague member, it acts as a Certificate of Authentication.
Documents used inside the United States do not require an Apostille or Authentication.
These certificates verify the origin of documents (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, court judgments, and notarized documents). They do not confirm or validate the contents of the document—only its official origin.
An Apostille does not expire under the Hague Convention.
Utah now offers Digital Apostilles, also known as e-Apostilles. These are issued electronically and may be verified online through our official e-Register. Digital Apostilles are legally valid and are delivered more quickly than paper versions.
ApostilleXpress is a secure online platform used by the Utah Office of the Lieutenant Governor to process requests. It allows customers to submit requests online, upload documents, choose delivery options, and receive status notifications.
Authority & Responsibility:
ApostilleXpress only handles submission and delivery. All Apostilles and Authentications are issued exclusively by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the State’s designated Competent Authority. The use of ApostilleXpress does not change Utah’s legal authority or responsibilities.
Delivery: Each recipient will receive an email with secure instructions on how to download their e-Apostille through Utah’s approved e-Register.
Verification: Each e-Apostille includes a unique Certificate Number. Requestors and recipients can verify the document by accessing the e-Register and searching for that number, confirming the Apostille’s authenticity and validity.
Yes. Under the Hague Apostille Convention’s Electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP), an e-Apostille holds the same legal force and recognition as its paper equivalent. It simply modernizes how the Authentication is delivered.
Members of the Hague convention cannot reject an Apostille based solely on electronic format. Because verification is completed through the issuing State’s official e-Register, recipients can independently confirm authenticity.
Unlike paper Apostilles, e-Apostilles can be securely shared with multiple authorized recipients at once, reducing the need for duplicate processing and costs.
An Apostille does not expire under the Hague Convention. In practice, e-Apostilles may be re-used for up to 5 years.
Yes, Utah continues to offer both options. To request a physical document, simply select a physical delivery option on your request form.
Processing, Appointments & Logistics
In-person: Appointments are required, but you can plan to receive your documents within 10 minutes (standard) to 2 hours of your appointment time.
Mail-in: Typically 1-3 business days once documents are received by our office (does not include mailing transit time).
Please note that documents are not processed on weekends or federal and state holidays.
The quickest way to get your document authenticated is by making an appointment. These are processed same-day, whereas mail-in documents are processed within 1-3 business days of our office receiving them.
You can schedule a “day-of appointment” by visiting our scheduling page. These appointments open at 10:00 AM each business day. We do not accept walk-ins.
We do not offer other forms of expedited service.
Yes. We do not accept walk-ins. Please see our scheduling page to schedule an appointment.
Most delays are caused by improperly prepared documents. Check your documents carefully before submitting them, and visit our Types of Documents page to verify whether we can accept your document.
All USPS mail is delayed because it must be processed by the Utah State Mail Agency first. To ensure timely delivery, consider using a commercial carrier like FedEx or UPS (please schedule a pickup for UPS).
Yes.
If someone else is picking up your documents, please ensure they know the name on the request form or the receipt number so we can provide them with the correct files. Although, remember that your documents will be completed within 10 minutes to 2 hours of your appointment time.
Cash, check, and all major credit cards are accepted. Please make checks or money orders payable to: State of Utah.
Document Requirements & Eligibility
The authorities in the destination country receiving the documents must specify which documents require an Apostille or Authentication. Our office cannot determine this for you.
Please make sure that the notarized document includes:
- The original document with original signature(s) (not photocopied).
- A complete and compliant notarial certificate.
No.
However, with over 20,000 notaries public in the state, you should be able to easily find someone who can notarize the document prior to submission.
No.
We cannot authenticate documents produced by other states, nor documents notarized by an out-of-state notary. You will need to contact the Secretary of State or Lieutenant Governor’s office in the state where the document was issued or notarized.
No.
FBI background checks and certified documents from Federal Agencies must go to the U.S. Department of State. Federal court documents should be authenticated by the Federal Court that issued them.
No.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office does not translate documents, nor do we require documents to be translated into English to be processed.
Yes, but only if the notary does not attest to the contents of the document (unless completed by a notary who is also a licensed attorney).
The U.S. Department of State concurs with Competent Authorities’ decisions not to provide Apostilles for notarial acts that go beyond the authorities granted to notaries within their respective states.