International Document Authentication
Authenticating Illinois Documents for Any Destination
How the process works, which route your document takes, and what changes depending on where it is going.
Why a Document Needs Authentication at All
An institution in one country has no direct way to verify that a signature, seal, or official title from another country is genuine. Authentication solves that problem. A designated authority in the country where the document was issued certifies that the signature, the capacity of the official who signed, and the seal on the document are authentic, and attaches a certificate that the receiving country knows how to read.
Authentication says nothing about the contents of the document. It certifies the official, not the facts. That distinction matters, because a document can be perfectly authenticated and still be the wrong document for the purpose it was obtained for.
Every destination in the world has a pathway. Illini Notary handles documents bound for any of them.
The Two Questions That Decide Every Pathway
First, which authority issued the document?
This question has three answers, not two, and it decides which authenticating authority receives the submission.
- A document issued by the State of Illinois goes to the Illinois Secretary of State. This includes Illinois vital records, Illinois court records, Illinois corporate filings, and documents signed before an Illinois notary.
- A document issued by the federal government, such as an FBI background check or a federal court record, goes to the United States Department of State, Office of Authentications.
- A document issued by a state other than Illinois goes to that state's own competent authority, not to Springfield. Our multi state concierge service manages that submission on your behalf rather than asking you to identify and contact the other state yourself.
Second, does the destination accept an apostille?
This question decides whether the process ends at authentication or continues further.
- A destination that is a party to the Apostille Convention accepts the apostille certificate directly. The process ends when the certificate is issued.
- A destination that is not a party requires legalization, which continues past authentication to that country's embassy or consulate. It is a longer process with additional steps and coordination, and it is a service we provide.
The Apostille Route
Where the destination is a party to the Convention, the competent authority issues a single certificate, the apostille, which is attached to the document. No consulate step follows, and no further certification is required by the Convention itself.
What remains is the practical work: confirming the document is in a form the authority accepts, completing any notarial act the document requires first, submitting to the correct authority, and returning the completed document to you. That is the part we handle, and the part where most self managed attempts lose time.
The Legalization Route
Where the destination is not a party to the Convention, the document follows the legalization route. The document is authenticated by the competent authority in the same way, and then presented for a further certification by the destination country's embassy or consulate, sometimes with an intervening step.
Legalization takes longer and involves more coordination, and the exact sequence is set by the destination. It is a normal part of what we do. A document bound for a country outside the Convention is not a document we cannot help with, it is a document with more steps.
Common Documents and the Route Each Follows
The document types below cover most requests. The route is set by the issuing authority, which is why the first column and the third column do not always line up the way people expect.
Document issued by the State of Illinois, such as a vital record, an Illinois court record, or an Illinois corporate filing
- Issuing authority
- An Illinois county clerk, local registrar, the Illinois Department of Public Health, an Illinois court, or the Illinois Secretary of State
- Authentication route
- Illinois Secretary of State
Document signed before an Illinois notary, such as a power of attorney or an affidavit
- Issuing authority
- The signer, notarized in Illinois
- Authentication route
- Notarization, then Illinois Secretary of State
Document issued by the federal government, such as an FBI background check or a federal court record
- Issuing authority
- A United States federal agency or federal court
- Authentication route
- United States Department of State, Office of Authentications
Document issued by a state other than Illinois
- Issuing authority
- The issuing authority in that state
- Authentication route
- That state's own competent authority, managed on your behalf by Illini Notary
What It Costs, by Route
Each route is a distinct service with its own concierge fee. Every figure separates our professional service fee from the government fee it passes through, except where noted below.
Illinois issued documents
From $145 plus government fee, shipping quoted at cost
The $145 is Illini Notary's own case management and document processing charge for the first document. It excludes the Illinois Secretary of State's fee of $2 per document, which is stated separately and passed through at cost.
Priority Illinois apostille, next counter run
From $220 plus the Illinois Secretary of State's $2 per document fee
The document is hand-carried to the Champaign counter on the next scheduled business day rather than mailed.
Same-day apostille submission
From $295 plus the $2 government fee
Documents must be received and confirmed eligible by 1:00 p.m. Central on weekdays. This is a submission promise, not an issuance promise. Illini Notary controls when the document is presented, not when the state issues it or how long the queue runs that day.
Saturday priority or same-day run
$35 weekend scheduling upcharge: $255 plus government fee for priority, or $330 plus government fee for same-day
Saturday scheduling requires advance notice and confirmation by Illini Notary. Capacity is limited during the shorter Saturday window and seasonal UIUC demand periods, so Illini Notary may decline a requested Saturday run.
Federal documents, such as an FBI background check
From $245 plus shipping
This figure already includes the United States Department of State fee of $20 per document. Only shipping is additional. Where Illini Notary obtains the FBI Identity History Summary itself, the FBI's own $18 direct request fee applies on top. Where an FBI approved channeler is used instead, the channeler sets its own fee, which is separate and quoted at intake.
Documents issued by a state other than Illinois
From $200 plus the issuing state's own fee and shipping
Illini Notary identifies the issuing state's competent authority and manages that submission on your behalf.
Embassy and consular legalization, for destinations outside the Apostille Convention
From $295
The final price depends on the destination country and the document, and is quoted per case once both are known.
Prices shown are estimates. Your exact quote is confirmed once we have the full scope of your documents and service needs.
Government fees are stated by route and passed through at cost. An Illinois issued document carries the Illinois Secretary of State fee of $2 per document. A federal document carries the United States Department of State fee of $20 per document. A single order may contain both routes and therefore both fees. Shipping, courier, fingerprint capture, channeler fees, translation, and the Illini Notary professional service fee are itemized separately.
Legalization for destinations outside the Apostille Convention is quoted per case once the country and the document are known, rather than published as a fixed total.
Destination Reference
Every Destination, and the Route It Follows
Illini Notary prepares documents for use in every destination listed here, and for destinations that are not listed. The only thing this reference tells you is which route your document travels, an apostille or the longer legalization route. Both are handled.
147 destinations listed. Last verified 10 September 2026.
Apostille route, a single certificate issued by the competent authorityLegalization route, authentication followed by the destination's consular step, handled for you
Asia and the Pacific
Australia
Apostille route, in force since 16 March 1995
Brunei Darussalam
Apostille route, in force since 3 December 1987
China, People's Republic of
Apostille route, in force since 7 November 2023
Fiji
Apostille route, in force since 10 October 1970
India
Apostille route, in force since 14 July 2005
Indonesia
Apostille route, in force since 4 June 2022
Japan
Apostille route, in force since 27 July 1970
Kazakhstan
Apostille route, in force since 30 January 2001
Korea, Republic of
Apostille route, in force since 14 July 2007
Kyrgyzstan
Apostille route, in force since 31 July 2011
Marshall Islands
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 1992
Mongolia
Apostille route, in force since 31 December 2009
New Zealand
Apostille route, in force since 22 November 2001
Pakistan
Apostille route, in force since 9 March 2023
Philippines
Apostille route, in force since 14 May 2019
Singapore
Apostille route, in force since 16 September 2021
Tajikistan
Apostille route, in force since 31 October 2015
Tonga
Apostille route, in force since 4 June 1970
Uzbekistan
Apostille route, in force since 15 April 2012
Vanuatu
Apostille route, in force since 30 July 1980
Bangladesh
Legalization route, handled for you
Cambodia
Legalization route, handled for you
Malaysia
Legalization route, handled for you
Myanmar
Legalization route, handled for you
Nepal
Legalization route, handled for you
Sri Lanka
Legalization route, handled for you
Taiwan
Legalization route, handled for you
Thailand
Legalization route, handled for you
Vietnam
Legalization route, handled for you
Europe
Albania
Apostille route, in force since 9 May 2004
Andorra
Apostille route, in force since 31 December 1996
Armenia
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 1994
Austria
Apostille route, in force since 13 January 1968
Azerbaijan
Apostille route, in force since 2 March 2005
Belarus
Apostille route, in force since 31 May 1992
Belgium
Apostille route, in force since 9 February 1976
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Apostille route, in force since 6 March 1992
Bulgaria
Apostille route, in force since 29 April 2001
Croatia
Apostille route, in force since 8 October 1991
Cyprus
Apostille route, in force since 30 April 1973
Czech Republic
Apostille route, in force since 16 March 1999
Denmark
Apostille route, in force since 29 December 2006
Estonia
Apostille route, in force since 30 September 2001
Finland
Apostille route, in force since 26 August 1985
France
Apostille route, in force since 24 January 1965
Georgia
Apostille route, in force since 14 May 2007
Germany
Apostille route, in force since 13 February 1966
Greece
Apostille route, in force since 18 May 1985
Hungary
Apostille route, in force since 18 January 1973
Iceland
Apostille route, in force since 27 November 2004
Ireland
Apostille route, in force since 9 March 1999
Italy
Apostille route, in force since 11 February 1978
Latvia
Apostille route, in force since 30 January 1996
Liechtenstein
Apostille route, in force since 17 July 1972
Lithuania
Apostille route, in force since 19 July 1997
Luxembourg
Apostille route, in force since 3 June 1979
Malta
Apostille route, in force since 3 March 1968
Moldova
Apostille route, in force since 16 March 2007
Monaco
Apostille route, in force since 31 December 2002
Montenegro
Apostille route, in force since 3 June 2006
Netherlands
Apostille route, in force since 8 October 1965
North Macedonia
Apostille route, in force since 17 September 1991
Norway
Apostille route, in force since 29 July 1983
Poland
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 2005
Portugal
Apostille route, in force since 4 February 1969
Romania
Apostille route, in force since 16 March 2001
Russian Federation
Apostille route, in force since 31 May 1992
San Marino
Apostille route, in force since 13 February 1995
Serbia
Apostille route, in force since 27 April 1992
Slovakia
Apostille route, in force since 18 February 2002
Slovenia
Apostille route, in force since 25 June 1991
Spain
Apostille route, in force since 25 September 1978
Sweden
Apostille route, in force since 1 May 1999
Switzerland
Apostille route, in force since 11 March 1973
Türkiye
Apostille route, in force since 29 September 1985
Ukraine
Apostille route, in force since 22 December 2003
United Kingdom
Apostille route, in force since 24 January 1965
The Americas
Antigua and Barbuda
Apostille route, in force since 1 November 1981
Argentina
Apostille route, in force since 18 February 1988
Bahamas
Apostille route, in force since 10 July 1973
Barbados
Apostille route, in force since 30 November 1966
Belize
Apostille route, in force since 11 April 1993
Bolivia
Apostille route, in force since 7 May 2018
Brazil
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 2016
Chile
Apostille route, in force since 30 August 2016
Colombia
Apostille route, in force since 30 January 2001
Costa Rica
Apostille route, in force since 14 December 2011
Dominica
Apostille route, in force since 3 November 1978
Dominican Republic
Apostille route, in force since 30 August 2009
Ecuador
Apostille route, in force since 2 April 2005
El Salvador
Apostille route, in force since 31 May 1996
Grenada
Apostille route, in force since 7 April 2002
Guatemala
Apostille route, in force since 18 September 2017
Guyana
Apostille route, in force since 18 April 2019
Honduras
Apostille route, in force since 30 September 2004
Jamaica
Apostille route, in force since 3 July 2021
Mexico
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 1995
Nicaragua
Apostille route, in force since 14 May 2013
Panama
Apostille route, in force since 4 August 1991
Paraguay
Apostille route, in force since 30 August 2014
Peru
Apostille route, in force since 30 September 2010
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Apostille route, in force since 14 December 1994
Saint Lucia
Apostille route, in force since 31 July 2002
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Apostille route, in force since 27 October 1979
Suriname
Apostille route, in force since 25 November 1975
Trinidad and Tobago
Apostille route, in force since 14 July 2000
Uruguay
Apostille route, in force since 14 October 2012
Venezuela
Apostille route, in force since 16 March 1999
Canada
Apostille route, in force since 11 January 2024
Cuba
Legalization route, handled for you
Haiti
Legalization route, handled for you
Africa
Botswana
Apostille route, in force since 30 September 1966
Burkina Faso
Apostille route, in force since 11 February 2025
Burundi
Apostille route, in force since 13 February 2015
Cabo Verde
Apostille route, in force since 13 February 2010
Eswatini
Apostille route, in force since 6 September 1968
Lesotho
Apostille route, in force since 4 October 1966
Liberia
Apostille route, in force since 8 February 1996
Malawi
Apostille route, in force since 2 December 1967
Mauritius
Apostille route, in force since 12 March 1968
Morocco
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 2016
Namibia
Apostille route, in force since 30 January 2001
Rwanda
Apostille route, in force since 3 June 2024
São Tomé and Príncipe
Apostille route, in force since 13 December 2008
Senegal
Apostille route, in force since 23 March 2023
Seychelles
Apostille route, in force since 31 March 1979
South Africa
Apostille route, in force since 30 April 1995
Tunisia
Apostille route, in force since 30 March 2018
Algeria
Legalization route, handled for you
Egypt
Legalization route, handled for you
Ethiopia
Legalization route, handled for you
Ghana
Legalization route, handled for you
Kenya
Legalization route, handled for you
Nigeria
Legalization route, handled for you
Tanzania
Legalization route, handled for you
Uganda
Legalization route, handled for you
The Middle East and Central Asia
Bahrain
Apostille route, in force since 31 December 2013
Israel
Apostille route, in force since 14 August 1978
Oman
Apostille route, in force since 30 January 2012
Saudi Arabia
Apostille route, in force since 7 December 2022
Türkiye
Apostille route, in force since 29 September 1985
United Arab Emirates
Legalization route, handled for you
Iraq
Legalization route, handled for you
Jordan
Legalization route, handled for you
Kuwait
Legalization route, handled for you
Lebanon
Legalization route, handled for you
Qatar
Legalization route, handled for you
What to Send Us, and What We Confirm
Please share contact details and the information below only. Do not send document contents or identification by email.
- The destination, meaning the country and, where you know it, the institution that will receive the document
- The document type
- The authority that issued the document
- Your deadline, and what the deadline is tied to
- How you would like the finished document delivered
From that, we confirm the issuing authority, the correct authenticating authority, the destination's current requirement, and any further requirement set by the institution receiving the document. Then the work is quoted.
Questions About International Authentication
Notarization and apostille are separate steps performed by separate authorities. Authentication is issued by a government authority, not by a notary. Handling times are subject to Illinois Secretary of State processing times. We do not guarantee acceptance of a document by any foreign government, consulate, court, agency, or receiving party. Confirm your receiving party's current requirements before ordering.
Related Pages
Apostille for China
What changed in November 2023, and why older instructions mislead.
Apostille for India
Degree certificates, powers of attorney, and the form each must take.
Apostille for South Korea
Why a diploma and a background check travel by different routes.
Apostille for Japan
A membership stable since 1970, where the routing is what decides the outcome.
Illinois Apostille Services
The Illinois pathway in detail, including the government fee.
Remote Online Notarization
Sign before an Illinois notary by secure video from anywhere.
Next Step
Start an Apostille Request.
Tell us the document and the destination, wherever it is. We confirm the requirement against current official sources before the work is quoted.
Prices shown are estimates. Your exact quote is confirmed once we have the full scope of your documents and service needs.
Illini Notary and Signing Services is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Notarial acts are performed in accordance with the Illinois Notary Public Act.
Please do not send document contents by email.