Last verified: October 28, 2026
Pennsylvania apostille: the $15 fee, Harrisburg walk-in, mail steps, and rejection traps
Pennsylvania apostilles and certifications come from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, through the Department of State's Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation in Harrisburg. They are only for documents that will be used outside the United States, and the destination country decides whether you get an apostille or a certification. [1]
| Which office | Pennsylvania Department of State, Apostilles & Certifications, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029 [1] |
|---|---|
| What it costs | $15 per document, not per page. [1][2] Certified copies of the record itself are a separate fee from the office that issues it. |
| How long it takes | Walk-in: processed while you wait. [2] Mail: the two official pages don't agree. The Department of State services page says "5 to 7 business days after receipt" [2], while the Document Certification program page says to "allow about two (2) to three (3) weeks." [1] Neither includes mailing time. If you have a deadline, plan for the longer one. |
Check your document before you send it
Most rejections come from the wrong signature. Pennsylvania's own checklist: [1][2]
- Originals only. No photocopies. The document must be signed by the proper Pennsylvania official and carry their official seal. [1][2]
- County documents must be signed by the clerk in charge of the county office. Documents signed by an assistant or deputy clerk will not be accepted. [1][2]
- Marriage certificates must be signed by the register of wills or clerk of the orphans' court, not just the officiant or clergyperson. [1][2]
- Death certificates must be signed by the state registrar. Don't submit one signed by a local registrar. [1][2]
- Birth certificates don't need notarization. [2]
- Diplomas, transcripts and criminal record checks must be notarized by a Pennsylvania notary public before you request the apostille. [1]
- Notarized documents: the notary's certificate must be in English. A version in another language the notary understands is allowed only if it sits right next to the English one. [2]
- Name the country where the document will be used, and include the correct fee. [1][2]
The request form lists whose signatures the Secretary of the Commonwealth can authenticate: state elected or appointed officials, county elected officials, judges and magisterial district judges, and Pennsylvania notaries public. [3]
In person (fastest)
The Department of State calls a visit to the North Office Building "the fastest, easiest way." Walk-in hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. Arrive by 4 p.m. so your documents can be finished that day, and note that the public entrance to the North Office Building closes at 3 p.m. daily. [2] For GPS, use 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, then go upstairs to room 201. Tell the staff how many documents (not pages) you have and the country requiring them. [1]
Payment: no cash for walk-in service since November 25, 2024. Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted. [1]
By mail
- Your original document(s). [1][2]
- A cover letter or the state's Request for Legalization of Documents form (also offered in Spanish and Chinese), with the destination country and your name, phone, email and full mailing address. [1][3]
- A personal check, money order or cashier's check payable to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" for $15 per document. Checks from a foreign bank must be in U.S. dollars and carry a routing number. No cash by mail or drop box. Credit cards are for walk-in service only. [1][3]
- A self-addressed, stamped return envelope, or a prepaid courier air bill. The Department does not accept FedEx or DHL for return shipment. For UPS, list yourself as both sender and recipient on the air bill. [1][2]
Mail to: Pennsylvania Department of State, Apostilles & Certifications, North Office Building, Room 201, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0029. [1] The state recommends tracking on both envelopes. [1][2]
After it comes back: don't remove the staple from any processed document. [1] You can look up an issued apostille or certification by its 9-digit number on the state's certification search. [4]
FBI background checks and other federal documents
Pennsylvania can't apostille an FBI background check or other federal document. The Department of State points you to the U.S. Department of State for those. [1] See our FBI background check guide.
Apostille or certification?
If the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you get an apostille; if not, Pennsylvania issues a certification. [1] Check the country on the Hague Conference status table [5], and see apostille vs. authentication.
Questions go to the Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation at (717) 787-5280 or RA-CERTIFICATIONS@pa.gov. [1] The Department only answers questions about Pennsylvania documents; a record from another state needs that state's office. [2]