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

If you’re planning to use aColorado document overseas—for a visa, university admission,marriage, dual citizenship, adoption,banking, or corporate registration—you’llalmost certainly need anapostille. An apostille isa standardized certificate accepted bycountries that participate in theHague Apostille Convention. Itconfirms the authority behind a signature orseal so a foreign official can trust yourDenver birth certificate,Colorado Springs marriage certificate, CU Boulder diploma,court order, orArticles of Organization withoutcalling back to Colorado. This page is acomprehensive, SEO-optimized guide toColorado apostille services, written for residents, students,notaries, HR teams, attorneys, and foundersacross the state.

We cover exactlywho issues apostilles in Colorado, how to tellstate vs. federal documentsapart, how to get documents“apostille-ready,” how fast the process canmove with in-person filing (often~24 hours for many statedocuments), and where most DIY attempts go wrong.Throughout, we use dense, contextualinternal linking so searches like “Colorado birth certificate apostille,” “marriage certificate apostilleColorado,” or “apostille Colorado Secretary of State” land you on the next-step resource youneed.

Quick Answer

Authority: TheColorado Secretary of State(Denver) issues apostilles forColorado-origin documents (vital,court-certified, notarized,registrar-verified, and many businessfilings). Federal documents—like anFBI Identity History Summary(background check), IRS 6166, orfederal agency certificates(FDA/USDA/EPA/USP)—are apostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. A simple rule:follow the issuer.

Speed: DIY mail-in takesweeks and a single error resets the clock.With readiness and in-person filing,many Colorado state apostilles can becompleted in ~24 hours. We provide asame-day scan uponissuance; shipping the original isoptional.

Flat Rate:$145 per document —government fees included.Scans always included. U.S.shipping is $20 (optional).International shipping available by quote.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is aninternationally recognized certificate usedby countries that participate in the1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Itverifies the authenticity of thesignature, seal, or capacity of theofficial who signed your document. It doesnot change your document; itauthenticates the authority behind it so aministry, consulate, university, or bankoverseas can accept it without contactingthe Colorado office that issued it. Whenyour destination is a Hague country (e.g.,Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, theNetherlands, Mexico, Japan, South Korea,Brazil), an apostille is typically the finalstep.

If the destination is not a Haguemember (e.g., UAE, Qatar, Vietnam, China),you’ll need theauthentication + consularlegalizationpath rather than a Hague apostille. We routeyour documents correctly from day one toavoid returns.

Who Issues Apostilles in Colorado?

TheColorado Secretary of State (SOS)in Denver issues state apostilles. TypicalColorado documents:

• Vital records — certifiedColorado birth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille, anddeath certificate apostille(from CDPHE or county).
• Court documents —certified copies fordivorce decree apostille, name change orders, adoption rulings(from the clerk of court).
• Notarized documents —powers of attorney & notarizedaffidavits apostilleexecuted by a Colorado notary withcompliant wording and seal.
• Education records —registrar-verifieddiplomas & transcripts apostille(CU, CSU, DU, Mines, MSU Denver, UCCS,community colleges, etc.).
• Business records —certified copies and good standings foroverseas banking or registration.

Federal documents (e.g.,FBI background checks) are apostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C.—never by the Colorado SOS.

Rule of thumb: Coloradoissuer or Colorado notary → Colorado SOS.U.S. federal issuer → U.S. Department ofState.

When Do You Need an Apostille?

Common Colorado scenarios that require anapostille:

• Visas & immigration —apostilled vital records and federalapostille on FBI report for residence/workpermits.
• Education & teaching abroad—apostilled diplomas and transcriptsfrom CU/CSU/DU/Mines/MSU Denver.
• Dual citizenship —apostilledColorado birth certificateandmarriage certificatefor consular records.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— apostilled vital records,divorce decrees, parental consents, orPOAs.
• Corporate use —apostilled Articles, Good Standing,resolutions, andcorporate POAsfor foreign banks and registries.
• Banking & property —apostilled notarized affidavits and courtorders for transactions abroad.

Your Options at a Glance: DIY Mail-In vs.Our Expedited Service

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Typical Timeline	~2–6+ weeks; delays common if errorsoccur.	As fast as ~24 hoursfor many Colorado state documents(with readiness).
Risk of Rejection	Higher (wrong authority, outdatedcopies, notary defects).	Lower (expert pre-check, correctrouting, compliant packaging).
Status Visibility	Low (little visibility after mailing).	High (proactive monitoring +same-day scan).
Effort Required	You research, assemble, mail, track,and re-mail if needed.	We review, file in person, monitor,scan, and (optionally) ship.
Best For	Flexible timelines; experiencedDIYers.	Deadlines, visas, enrollments,corporate deals; stress-free handling.

Pricing & ETA (Scans Always Included,Shipping Optional)

Document Readiness in Colorado

Getting “apostille-ready” is the differencebetween a smooth one-day turnaround andweeks of delay. In Colorado, readinessgenerally means:

Vital Records (Birth, Marriage/Divorce,Death)

Use certified copies—notscans or photocopies—issued by CDPHE or yourcounty. For dual citizenship, immigration,and civil status filings, many officialsprefer long-form records. If you need aColorado birth certificate apostille, ensure you have a fresh, legiblecertificate before filing. The same goes foramarriage certificate apostille, adivorce decree apostille, or adeath certificate apostille.

Court Documents

Orders and judgments (adoption, name change,probate, divorce) must becertified by the clerk.Downloaded PDFs without a propercertification are usually rejected. Ifyou’ll use it abroad, request a certifiedcopy upfront.

Notarized Documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, parentalconsents, company resolutions, andauthorization letters must be notarized by aColorado notary withcomplete certificate language, venue, date,signature, printed name, commission details,and seal. We can pre-check and correctissues before filing. For details, see ourguide topowers of attorney & notarizeddocuments apostille.

Education Records

Universities and colleges (CU system, CSU,DU, Mines, MSU Denver, UCCS, communitycolleges, Colorado College, Regis, Western,Fort Lewis, Adams State) often requireregistrar verification or asealed packet. Wecoordinate campus steps and then completethediplomas & transcripts apostillethrough the Colorado SOS.

Business & Trade

For overseas banking and companyregistrations, you may need certified copiesof Articles, Good Standing, boardresolutions, andcorporate POAs. We source certified copies where neededand ensure the paperwork matches thedestination’s acceptance rules.

Step-by-Step: Colorado Apostille Process

High-level view; we protect clientprivacy and proprietary workflows.

1. Identify the issuer —Colorado issuer/notary → Colorado SOS;federal issuer → U.S. Department of State.
2. Readiness check —Certified copies (vital/court), compliantnotary wording, registrar verifications,and Hague vs. non-Hague pathway.
3. Submission — Wefile in person with the ColoradoSOS for state documents and with the U.S.Department of State for federal documents.
4. Monitoring — We trackyour file, resolve procedural issues, andprevent re-mail loops.
5. Issuance & delivery —We send asame-day scan uponissuance; original shipping isoptional ($20 U.S.;international by quote).

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

Birth Certificate Apostille (Colorado)

For dual citizenship, immigration, schoolenrollment, or marriage abroad, a certifiedbirth record often must be apostilled. Startwith a fresh certified copy from CDPHE oryour county, then we file in person for aColorado birth certificate apostilleand deliver a same-day scan.

Marriage Certificate Apostille (Colorado)

For foreign marriage registration, spousalvisas, or name changes overseas, request acertified copy from the county or CDPHE, andwe’ll complete themarriage certificate apostillewith the Colorado SOS.

Divorce Decree Apostille (Colorado)

For remarriage, custody, or inheritanceabroad, obtain a certified copy from theclerk of the issuing court; we’ll file for adivorce decree apostilleand return a same-day scan.

Death Certificate Apostille (Colorado)

Estates and insurance matters overseas oftenrequire adeath certificate apostille. Only certified copies are eligible; wefile in person and provide a same-day scan.

Diplomas & Transcripts Apostille(Colorado)

Ministries and employers abroad frequentlyrequireapostilled diplomas & transcripts. We coordinate registrar verification forCU, CSU, DU, Mines, MSU Denver, UCCS, andothers before filing with the SOS.

Notarized Affidavits & POAs Apostille(Colorado)

For real estate, banking, adoption, orbusiness representation abroad, notarizedaffidavits and powers of attorney must meetColorado notary standards. We pre-checkcertificates and then obtain theapostille for POAs & notarizeddocuments.

Corporate Records (Articles, Good Standing,Resolutions, POAs)

Overseas banks and registries often requestapostilled Articles, Certificates of GoodStanding, board resolutions, andcorporate POAs. We source certified copies and handle thefiling end-to-end.

FBI Background Check (Federal Apostille)

The FBI Identity History Summary is afederal record; theColorado SOS cannot apostille it. We routeyour file to theU.S. Department of State inD.C. for a federal apostille and provide asame-day scan when issued.

Colorado Use Cases & Scenarios

• Tech & aerospacerelocations— Engineers in Denver/Boulder moving tothe EU/Asia needapostilled diplomas &transcriptsplus an FBI apostille.
• University admissions —CU/CSU/DU/Mines alumni sendingapostilled academic recordsfor master’s/PhD programs abroad.
• Dual citizenship filings— Apostilledbirth certificatesandmarriage certificatesfor consular registrations.
• Family law & adoption— Apostilleddivorce decrees, parental consents, andPOAs.
• Banking & property —Apostilled notarized affidavits andpowers of attorneyfor transactions abroad.
• Corporate expansion —Apostilled Articles, Good Standing,resolutions, andcorporate POAsfor overseas accounts and registries.
• Estate & inheritance— Apostilleddeath certificatesand court orders for cross-border probate.

Colorado Cities We Serve (Local Coverage)

We support clients statewide—Front Range,Western Slope, mountain towns, and theEastern Plains. If you searched “apostille near me Colorado,” we’ve got you covered. Frequent serviceareas include:

• Denver Metro — Denver,Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada,Westminster, Centennial, Englewood,Littleton, Northglenn, Wheat Ridge,Golden, Highlands Ranch, Parker, CastleRock, Lone Tree, Brighton
• Boulder & North Front Range— Boulder, Longmont, Louisville,Lafayette, Superior, Broomfield, Erie,Niwot, Lyons, Fort Collins, Loveland,Greeley, Windsor, Evans
• Pikes Peak Region —Colorado Springs, Monument, Fountain,Manitou Springs, Woodland Park
• Northern I-25 —Johnstown, Berthoud, Mead, Firestone,Frederick, Dacono
• Western Slope — GrandJunction, Fruita, Montrose, Delta,Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Palisade,Steamboat Springs
• Mountain Resorts — Vail,Beaver Creek, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, Aspen,Snowmass, Basalt, Breckenridge, Frisco,Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone, WinterPark, Granby, Telluride, Durango
• Southern & Plains —Pueblo, Cañon City, Trinidad, La Junta,Lamar, Alamosa, Walsenburg, Limon,Sterling, Brush, Fort Morgan, Burlington

County & Campus Coverage

We routinely process records fromDenver,Arapahoe,Jefferson,Douglas,Adams,Boulder,Larimer,Weld,El Paso,Pueblo,Mesa,Garfield,Eagle,Summit,Pitkin,Routt,La Plata,Montrose,Delta,Logan,Morgan,Elbert,Teller,Fremont, and all othercounties.

Campus work spans:

• University of Colorado —Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs (UCCS)
• Colorado State University— Fort Collins; CSU Pueblo
• University of Denver(DU);Colorado School of Mines(Golden); MSU Denver
• Regis University;Adams State (Alamosa);Western Colorado University(Gunnison)
• Fort Lewis College(Durango);Colorado College(Colorado Springs);Naropa University(Boulder)
• Colorado Community College System andindependent community colleges statewide

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy LegalizationPath

If your destination country is a Haguemember, a Colorado apostille is typicallythe final step. For non-Hague destinations,documents follow a different route:authentication (state orfederal) and thenembassy/consular legalization. Requirements vary by country, documenttype, and sometimes the internal office(e.g., a ministry of justice versus aministry of education). We map the exactsequence so your packet isn’t returned.

Some destinations requirecertified translations.Depending on the rules, the translation maybe attached after the apostille orprepared beforehand in a specific way. Wefollow the destination’s instructionsprecisely.

Real-World Timelines, Risks &Contingencies

Government volumes vary with travel seasonsand university deadlines. With DIY mail-in,a small error—wrong fee, stale certificate,incomplete notary wording, missing registrarstep—can add weeks. To safeguard yourtimeline:

• Front-load readiness —gather fresh certified copies;verify notary language; secure registrarverifications fordiplomas & transcripts apostille.
• In-person filing — if youhave fixed dates (visa appointment, schoolstart, onboarding), avoid mail-in risks.
• Leverage scans — manyconsulates and schools will pre-processwith oursame-day scan while youroriginal ships.
• Run parallel tracks — ifyou have both state and federal documents,we can move them simultaneously.

Top Colorado Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong authority —submitting a federal FBI report to theColorado SOS or sending a Colorado recordto the U.S. Department of State. For vitalrecords, use thebirth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,divorce decree apostille, ordeath certificate apostillepathways.
• Uncertified/old copies —photocopies, faded stamps, and e-downloadswithout certification are rejected. Obtaina fresh certified copy before filing.
• Notary defects — missingseal, wrong venue, incomplete certificate,or out-of-state RON not accepted by thedestination. For notarized files, see ourPOA & notarized documentsapostilleguide.
• Skipping registrar steps— university records without a registrarletter or sealed packet can be bounced.Follow thediplomas & transcripts apostilleprocess.
• No destination check —Hague vs. non-Hague dictates whether youneed an apostille or authentication +legalization.
• Late starts — mail-incycles plus re-mailing can derailappointments. In-person filing avoidsthese risks.

Readiness Checklist (Colorado)

• Is your documentstate (Colorado) orfederal (U.S. agency)?
• For vital/court records, do you have acertified copy (not aphotocopy or unauthenticated download)? Ifnot, start with the correct guide:birth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,divorce decree apostille, ordeath certificate apostille.
• For notarized items, is the notarizationColorado-compliant(venue, date, signature, printed name,commission info, seal)? If unsure, reviewthePOA & notarized documentsapostilleguide.
• For academic records, has theregistrar provided theright verification or sealed packet? Seediplomas & transcripts apostille.
• Is the destinationHague (apostille) ornon-Hague (authentication+ legalization)?
• Do you have adeadline that justifiesin-person filing and proactive monitoring?

Frequently Asked Questions (ColoradoApostille)

Who issues apostilles for Coloradodocuments?

TheColorado Secretary of Statein Denver issues apostilles forColorado-origin documents such asbirth certificates,marriage certificates,divorce decrees, court orders,diplomas & transcripts, andnotarized POAs & affidavits.

Can Colorado apostille my FBI backgroundcheck?

No. The FBI Identity History Summary is afederal document and mustbe apostilled by theU.S. Department of Statein Washington, D.C. Colorado SOS onlyapostilles Colorado-origin documents.

How fast can a Colorado apostille becompleted?

DIY mail-in takes weeks. With readinessand in-person filing,~24 hours is possible formany state documents (vital,court-certified, notarized,registrar-verified). We send a same-dayscan upon issuance; shipping is optional.

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille doesn’t formally expire, butmany consulates and universities preferrecent issuances (often within 90days). If timing matters, expedite.

Is shipping required?

No.Shipping is optional.Scans are always included the day theapostille is issued. U.S. shipping is $20;international by quote.

What if I need to apostille both a birthcertificate and a diploma?

No problem. We can submit parallel tracks:Colorado birth certificate apostillevia the SOS anddiplomas & transcripts apostillewith your registrar’s verification.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when required by the destination.We’ll confirm whether translation mustoccur before or after the apostille tomeet the country’s rule set.

Are you a government office?

No. We are a private expert service thatprepares, files, monitors, and deliversapostilles end-to-end (state and federal),with same-day scans andoptional shipping.

Mini-Glossary

• Apostille — Astandardized certificate accepted by Haguecountries to authenticate a publicdocument’s signature/seal/capacity.
• Certified Copy — Anofficial copy issued by the proper agencyor court with seal/signature; not aphotocopy.
• Authentication — Thepathway used for non-Hague destinationsprior to consular legalization.
• Consular Legalization —Certification by a foreignembassy/consulate for non-Hagueacceptance.
• Registrar Verification —A university/school registrar confirmsacademic records to enable apostille.
• RON — Remote OnlineNotarization; acceptance varies. When indoubt, use traditional in-personnotarization.

Related Guides & Tools

• Birth Certificate Apostille
• Marriage Certificate Apostille
• Divorce Decree Apostille
• Death Certificate Apostille
• Academic Diplomas & TranscriptsApostille
• Power of Attorney & NotarizedDocuments Apostille

Disclaimer: Requirements and timelinescan change without notice. We base ourguidance on current practices of theColorado Secretary of State and the U.S.Department of State at the time of yourorder.