Zach’s Backup DocA
(Apostille / Certificate)
New Feature
Digital Delivery is Available Now
You can now choose to receive your completed Apostille or Certificate electronically. It is delivered instantly to multiple recipients, serves as a multi-use document (the new international standard), and allows you to keep your original physical documents.
Note: Digital Authentications can only be requested through mail-in or by appointment at this time. Digital submissions will be available April 14th, 2026.
Universal Certificate
Utah uses one universal certificate for legalized documents, regardless of whether the destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. This single certificate is valid in all countries.
You can verify any Utah authentication using our Online Verification Portal.
How the Universal Certificate Works
- For Hague Member Countries: It serves as an Apostille, verifying the origin of a public document for use in member countries.
- For Non-Hague Member Countries: It functions identically as a standard Certificate of Authentication.
The unaltered, legalized document must be accepted by any receiving country. A properly issued Certificate may only be rejected if the legalized document itself has been embellished, modified, or otherwise tampered with.
Issuance Methods
State Fees + $69.95
Digital Authentications
Issued electronically and delivered securely to your email.
- Delivery: Emailed immediately after processing.
- Functionality: Multi-use digital file that can be shared multiple times.
- Validity: Accepted in all Hague Convention countries (legally equivalent to paper).
State Fees (+ Optional Shipping)
Paper Authentications
Issued in physical form and returned to you via mail, courier, or in-person pickup.
- Delivery: Pick up in-office (no shipping fee or transit time), or receive via Courier/USPS.
- Functionality: Single-use physical document for a specific transaction.
- Validity: Accepted in all Hague Convention countries.
Fees & Processing Times
Processing Time Notice
Our typical processing times apply only to our portion of the request. When a third party is involved for authentication, the overall processing time may be extended, as we cannot account for their schedule.
$19.00 / document
- 3 to 5 business days in-office processing time.
- Does not include mailing transit time.
Next Day Service
$53.00 / document
- Ready for pick-up the following business day.
- Does not include mailing transit time.
Same Day Service
$93.00 / document
- Can take up to 2 hours to process (depends on quantity/availability).
- Mail Warning: If mailed to us, we may not mail it back the same day unless you include a prepaid return label (UPS, FedEx).
- Does not include mailing transit time.
Additional Fees
**See Processing Time Notice above
International Shipping Fees & Policies
Applicable Fee + $10.00
- USPS international shipping includes No Tracking and No Delivery Confirmation.
- The Lt. Governor’s office is not responsible for items lost in the mail.
- It is highly encouraged to provide your own self-addressed prepaid envelope with a tracking number.
Adoption Authentication Requests
$10.00 Fee
A fee of $10.00 is charged for an Apostille/Certificate of Authentication for Adoption (with sworn affidavit).
- Must submit the appropriate Adoption Authentication Request Form.
- Must sign the affidavit and provide adoption information.
In-Person Services
Schedule an Appointment
Alternate option
Open Walk-In Hours
If you are unable to schedule an appointment in advance, our office is open for public walk-in services during a dedicated two-hour window every weekday.
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Alternate option
Secure Drop Box
If you cannot secure an appointment or visit during our open walk-in hours, you may fill out an Authentication Request Form and leave it in our secure office drop box.
Drop box requests are generally received and begin the processing queue within one business day.
Payment Information
All document services require payment at the time of processing. We accept the following methods:
Credit/Debit: All major credit cards
Checks/Money Orders: Made payable to “State of Utah”
Cash: Accepted in person (sending cash in the mail is highly discouraged).
Mail Delay Warning
Mail-In Instructions
If mailing your documents, please include the following:
- Payment (Check, Money Order, or Card Info on form)
- Completed Authentication Request Form
- The original document(s)
- A self-addressed envelope.
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).
Alternate option
Walk-In Instructions
Hours: Monday – Friday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Excluding holidays). Bring the following:
- Payment method
- Completed Authentication Request Form
- The original document(s)
We will email you when your documents are ready. There are no requirements for the document holder to pick up documents themselves; a representative may do it.
Alternate option
Secure Drop Box
If you cannot secure an appointment or visit during our open walk-in hours, you may fill out an Authentication Request Form and leave it in our secure office drop box.
Drop box requests are generally received and begin the processing queue within one business day.
Mailing & Physical Office Addresses
Walk-ins & Physical Address:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Utah State Capitol Building
350 North State Street, Suite 220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
(Parking is available on the east side of the capitol hill complex).
For Courier Shipping (UPS, FedEx):
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
350 North State Street, Suite 220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
For standard USPS Mail:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
PO BOX 142325
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114