Arizona Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, FBI & Business Docs Fast

Need to use an Arizona documentabroad?You’ll almost certainly be asked foranapostille. An apostilleisa one-page certificate thatauthenticatesthe signature or seal on apublic documentso it can be accepted inanother countrythat belongs to theHague Apostille Convention of 1961.Without it, even valid Arizonarecords—likeabirth certificate from MaricopaCounty, amarriage license issued in Tucson,adiploma from Arizona State University, or acorporate filing from theArizonaCorporation Commission—may be rejected overseas.

This comprehensive guide is writtenforArizona residents, businesses,andprofessionals. We explainwho issues apostilles in Arizona, how the process works, timelines,costs,and the difference between DIY mail-invs.expedited service. We also includeArizona-specific city coverage—Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa,Scottsdale,Chandler, Glendale, Gilbert,Tempe, Peoria,Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma,Sierra Vista, andmore—so that peoplesearching “apostillenear me Arizona” findclear answers thatmatch their local intent.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille isaninternationally accepted certificatethatvalidates a public document’s signatureorseal. For example, if you’re presentingabirth certificate from PhoenixinSpain or Italy, the apostilleassuresforeign authorities that it’sauthentic. Theapostille doesn’t alter yourdocument—itsimply confirms the authoritybehind it.

An apostille is like an internationalstampof approval: Arizona says, “Thisisgenuine,” so a foreign countrywillrecognize it.

Who Issues Apostilles in Arizona?

In Arizona, apostilles are issued bytheArizona Secretary of Statein Phoenix. If your document wascreated,notarized, or certified inArizona—such as abirth certificate from MaricopaCountyVital Records, acourt order from Pima County,oranotarized affidavit signed in Mesa—the Secretary of State’s office isthecorrect authority.

For federal documents,theprocess differs. AnFBI background check, anIRS Form 6166, or certificatesfromFDA/USDA/EPA must be apostilledbytheU.S. Department of State inWashington,D.C.These cannot be apostilled by theArizonaSecretary of State.

When Do You Need an Apostille?

Arizona residents and organizationsneedapostilles when foreigngovernments,schools, employers, or courtsrequire U.S.documents they can trust withoutlocalre-verification. Common cases include:

• Dual citizenship—Apostilled Arizonabirth or marriage certificatesfor applications in Italy,Spain,Portugal, or Mexico.
• Teaching overseas—Apostilled diplomas and transcriptsfromArizona State University,University of Arizona, orNorthern Arizona University.
• Visas & immigration—ApostilledFBI background checks(federalapostille) for residence permitsabroad.
• International business—ApostilledArticles of Incorporation,Certificates of Good Standing,orcorporate resolutionsforArizona-based companies.
• Adoptions & marriagesabroad— Apostilled vital records requiredbyforeign courts or registrars.

DIY Mail-In vs. Our Expedited Service

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Timeline	2–6 weeks by mail; delays possible.	As fast as 24 hoursfor Arizona state documents.
Risk of Rejection	High if sent to the wrong authorityormissing details.	Low — expert pre-check andcorrectrouting.
Status Updates	Minimal visibility until returnmailarrives.	Same-day scan+proactive updates.
Effort	You prepare, mail, and troubleshoot.	We handle everything end-to-end.

Pricing & ETA

Document Readiness in Arizona

Apostille readiness depends on havingthecorrect format of your document:

Vital Records

Must becertified copiesfrom theArizona Department of HealthServices or thecounty vital records office.Photocopiescan’t be apostilled.

Notarized Documents

Must be notarized by an Arizona notarypublicwith proper certificate wording,seal, andsignature. Remote onlinenotarizations (RON)are accepted ifcompliant.

Education Records

Diplomas and transcripts oftenrequireregistrar-sealed packets from ASU, Uof A,NAU, or community colleges.

Business & Court Documents

Articles of Incorporation, CertificatesofGood Standing, bylaws, court orders,andjudgments must be properly certifiedornotarized.

Document Playbooks (Vital, Education,Notarized, Corporate, Federal/FBI)

Birth Certificate Apostille

AnArizona birth certificate apostilleis often required for dual citizenship,foreign school enrollment, or immigration.Use a certified copy fromthe Arizona Department of Health Services(ADHS) or your county clerk/recorder. Wefile directly with theArizona Secretary of State(Phoenix)and deliver a same-day scan.

Marriage Certificate Apostille

For international marriage registration orspousal visas, anArizona marriage certificate apostilleis essential. Certified copies come from thecounty recorder (e.g., Maricopa, Pima,Pinal). We handle filing at theArizona Secretary of State.

Divorce Decree Apostille

AnArizona divorce decree apostilleis used for name changes, remarriage abroad,or inheritance. Obtain acertified copy from thecourt clerk, then we apostille it with theArizona Secretary of State.

Death Certificate Apostille

AnArizona death certificate apostilleis often needed for inheritance, estates, orinsurance abroad. Onlycertified copies from ADHSor the county are valid for apostille.

Diplomas & Transcripts

Employers and foreign universitiesfrequently require anapostille for Arizona diplomas andtranscripts. We coordinate registrar verification atArizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona,Northern Arizona University (NAU), Grand Canyon University,and community colleges, then file forapostille in Phoenix.

Notarized Documents (POA, Affidavits)

AnArizona notarized document apostillecovers powers of attorney, affidavits, orparental consents notarized by an Arizonanotary public. We pre-check the notarialcertificate language and file forapostille—or manage theauthentication/legalization path fornon-Hague countries.

Corporate & Trade Documents

ApostilledArticles of Incorporation,Certificates of Good Standing/Status, board resolutions, andPOAs are often required foroverseas banks, tenders, or regulators. Wecan source certified copies from the issuingoffice (e.g., Arizona Corporation Commissionor county/court as applicable) and ensurethey meetArizona Secretary of Stateapostille standards.

FBI Background Check (Federal)

An FBI Identity History Summary is afederal record. TheArizona Secretary of State cannotapostille it. We route it to theU.S. Department of State in Washington,D.C.for apostille and provide a same-day scanupon issuance.

Step-by-Step: Arizona Apostille Process

1. Identify — Statedocuments→ AZ Secretary of State; federal→ U.S.Department of State.
2. Prepare — Ensurecertifiedcopies, notarization, registrarpackaging,or clerk certification.
3. Submit — DIY mail orourdirect in-person filing.
4. Monitor — We trackandrespond to issues.
5. Deliver — Securesame-dayscan always; shipping optional.

What We Apostille in Arizona

Personal & Vital

Birth, marriage, divorce, deathcertificates,single-status affidavits.

Education

Diplomas and transcripts from ASU, U ofA,NAU, Grand Canyon University, andcommunitycolleges.

Business

Articles of Incorporation, GoodStanding,bylaws, resolutions, powers ofattorney,contracts.

Federal

FBI checks, IRS 6166, FDA/USDA certificates—apostilled in Washington, D.C.

Common Arizona Use Cases

• Teaching abroad—Apostilled ASU diploma + FBI checkforSouth Korea.
• Dual citizenship—Apostilled Arizona birth/marriagerecordsfor Italy.
• Business expansion—Apostilled Good Standing for companiesinPhoenix expanding to Mexico or Europe.
• Adoption abroad—Apostilled court orders and vitalrecords.

Arizona Cities We Serve

Our services cover every county and cityinArizona, including:

• Phoenix
• Tucson
• Mesa
• Chandler
• Glendale
• Scottsdale
• Gilbert
• Tempe
• Peoria
• Surprise
• Flagstaff
• Yuma
• Prescott
• Sierra Vista
• Kingman
• Lakeside

If you’re searching for “apostille near me Arizona,” we can help in all 15 counties and90+cities.

Hague vs. Non-Hague Countries

Apostilles are valid only forHaguecountries. Non-Hague destinationsrequireauthentication +consularlegalization. We manage both pathways.

Top Arizona Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending federal documents to theArizonaSecretary of State.
• Submitting photocopies instead ofcertifiedcopies.
• Improper notarization or missing seals.
• Waiting too long — mail-in delays canbemonths.

Readiness Checklist

• Do you know if your doc is stateorfederal?
• Do you have a certified copy(notphotocopy)?
• Was notarization done correctly inArizona?
• Registrar packaging for education records?
• Destination Hague vs. non-Hague confirmed?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues apostilles in Arizona?

The Arizona Secretary of State inPhoenixissues apostilles for statedocuments.Federal documents go through theU.S.Department of State in D.C.

How long does the Arizona apostilleprocesstake?

Mail-in can take weeks. Ourexpeditedfiling can complete many Arizonadocumentsin 24 hours.

Is shipping required?

No. We always provide asame-day scan. Shippingis optional ($20 U.S.;international byquote).

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille doesn’t expire,butconsulates often prefer recentones(within 90 days).

Can I apostille an FBI check in Arizona?

No. FBI checks are federal and mustbeapostilled by the U.S. DepartmentofState.

Mini-Glossary

• Apostille —Certificatefor Hague countries validatinga publicdocument.
• Certified Copy —Officialcopy from the issuing office, notaphotocopy.
• Authentication —Non-Hagueverification step beforeconsularlegalization.
• Consular Legalization—Embassy/consulate confirmationfornon-Hague countries.

Related Guides

• FBI Background Check Apostille
• How to Get a Federal Apostille(DIYGuide)
• Federal Apostille ProcessingTime(Estimator)
• Same-Day Federal Apostille(EmergencyOnly)

Disclaimer: Timelines and requirementscanchange. We base our guidance on themostcurrent information available fromtheArizona Secretary of State andU.S.Department of State at the time ofyourorder.