Connecticut Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, Diplomas, FBI & Business

If you need to use aConnecticut-issued documentabroad—for a visa, university enrollment,marriage, dual citizenship, adoption,banking, or corporate registration—foreignauthorities will likely ask for anapostille. An apostille isa standardized certificate recognized bycountries participating in theHague Apostille Convention. Itauthenticates the signature or seal on yourHartford birth certificate,New Haven marriage certificate,Yale or UConn diploma,Stamford court order, orBridgeport corporate record, soofficials overseas can trust it withoutre-verifying in Connecticut. This page is acomprehensive, local SEO–optimized guide toConnecticut apostille services—written for residents, notaries,registrars, HR teams, attorneys, andfounders across the state.

Below, you’ll find exactlywho issues apostilles inConnecticut, how to separatestate vs. federaldocuments, how to get your paperwork“apostille-ready,” realistic turnaroundtimes (with many state filings completed in~24 hours), and the DIYmistakes that cause weeks of delay. We embeddense, contextual internal links so searcheslike“Connecticut birth certificateapostille,” “marriage certificateapostille Connecticut,”and“apostille Secretary of the StateHartford”lead you straight to the right nextstep—such as our guides forbirth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,divorce decree apostille,death certificate apostille,diplomas & transcripts apostille, andPOA & notarized documentsapostille.

Quick Answer

Authority: TheConnecticut Secretary of the State(SOTS)in Hartford issues apostilles forConnecticut-origin documents—vitalrecords, court-certified copies, notarizeddocuments executed by a Connecticut notary,registrar-verified education records, andmany business filings.Federal documents—like anFBI Identity History Summary(background check) or IRS 6166—areapostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. Rule of thumb:follow the issuer.

Speed: DIY mail-in takesweeks, and a single error (wrong authority,stale certificate, notary defect) canrestart the clock. With readiness andin-person filing,many Connecticut state apostilles arecompleted in ~24 hours. We send 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 is available byquote.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a one-pageauthentication certificate used by countriesin the1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Itverifies thesignature, seal, or capacity of theofficial who signed your document. It doesnot change the content of thedocument; it proves the issuing authority isreal and authorized. For Hague destinations(Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany,the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Japan,South Korea), an apostille is usually thefinal step. Fornon-Hague destinations (China, UAE,Qatar, Vietnam), you’ll need a differentpathway:authentication + consularlegalization.

Who Issues Apostilles in Connecticut?

TheConnecticut Secretary of theStateissues apostilles for documents thatoriginate in Connecticut or are notarized bya Connecticut notary public.Typical CT documents:

• Vital records — certifiedConnecticut birth certificateapostille,marriage certificate apostille,death certificate apostille, anddivorce decree apostille(issued by town/city Vital Records or theCT Department of Public Health).
• Court documents —certified orders and judgments fromConnecticut courts (adoption, name change,probate, divorce).
• Notarized documents —powers of attorney & notarizedaffidavits apostilleexecuted by a Connecticut notary withcomplete, compliant certificate wording.
• Education records —registrar-verifieddiplomas & transcripts apostillefrom Yale, UConn, Quinnipiac, Trinity,Wesleyan, Sacred Heart, Fairfield,University of Hartford, University of NewHaven, CCSU, SCSU, ECSU, WCSU, andcommunity colleges.
• Business records —certified copies of Articles, Certificatesof Good Standing, board resolutions, andPOAs for overseas banks or registries.

Federal documents areapostilled by theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C. A Connecticut office cannotapostille an FBI report or IRS letter.

Rule of thumb: Connecticutissuer or Connecticut notary → ConnecticutSOTS. U.S. federal issuer → U.S. Departmentof State (Washington, D.C.).

When Do You Need an Apostille?

Frequent Connecticut situations that requirean apostille:

• Visas & immigration —apostilled vital records (birth, marriage)and a federal apostille for theFBI background check.
• Study & teaching abroad— apostilleddiplomas & transcriptsfrom Yale, UConn, Quinnipiac, Trinity,Wesleyan, etc.
• Dual citizenship —apostilledbirth certificates,marriage certificates, and court orders for consulates.
• Marriage or adoption abroad— apostilled vital records,divorce decrees, parental consents, andPOAs.
• Corporate & banking —apostilled Articles, Good Standing, boardresolutions, andcorporate POAsfor international transactions.
• Property & inheritance— apostilled court orders anddeath certificatesfor overseas estates.

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

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Typical Timeline	~2–6+ weeks; returns add weeks more.	As fast as ~24 hoursfor many CT state documents (withreadiness).
Risk of Rejection	Higher — wrong authority, outdatedcopies, notary errors.	Lower — expert pre-check, correctrouting, compliant packaging.
Status Visibility	Low — little visibility after mailing.	High — proactive monitoring +same-day scan onissuance.
Effort Required	You research, assemble, mail, track,and re-mail.	We review, file in person(state/federal), monitor, scan, and(optionally) ship.
Best For	Flexible timelines, experiencedDIYers.	Deadlines, visas, school starts,corporate deals; zero-stress handling.

Pricing & ETA (Scans Always Included,Shipping Optional)

Document Readiness in Connecticut

“Apostille-ready” documents turn a riskymulti-week process into a predictable, fastresult. In Connecticut, readiness typicallymeans:

Vital Records (Birth, Marriage/Divorce,Death)

Use certified copies—notscans or photocopies—issued by yourtown/city Vital Records office orthe CT Department of Public Health.For many consulates and universities, along-form version is preferred. If you needaConnecticut birth certificateapostille, ensure the certificate is fresh, legible,and properly sealed. The same applies for amarriage certificate apostille, adivorce decree apostille, or adeath certificate apostille.

Court Documents

Court orders and judgments (adoption, namechange, probate, divorce) must becertified by the clerk(original seal/signature). Plain copies anddownloads without certification are commonlyrejected for apostille.

Notarized Documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, parentalconsents, company resolutions, andauthorization letters must be notarized by aConnecticut notary withcomplete certificate wording, venue, date,signature, printed name, commission details,and seal. We pre-check and correct issuesbefore filing. See our guide topowers of attorney & notarizeddocuments apostille.

Education Records

Universities and colleges (Yale, UConn,Quinnipiac, Trinity, Wesleyan, Sacred Heart,Fairfield University, University ofHartford, University of New Haven, CCSU,SCSU, ECSU, WCSU, and CT community colleges)often requireregistrar verification or asealed packet. Wecoordinate campus steps and then completethediplomas & transcripts apostillethrough the Connecticut SOTS.

Business & Trade

For overseas banking and companyregistrations, you may need certified copiesof Articles, Good Standing, boardresolutions, andcorporate POAs. We source certified copies where neededand align the paperwork with destinationrequirements (Hague vs. non-Hague).

Step-by-Step: Connecticut Apostille Process

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

1. Identify the issuer — CTissuer/notary → Connecticut SOTS; U.S.federal issuer → U.S. Department of State.
2. Readiness check —Certified copies (vital/court), compliantnotary wording, registrar verifications,and destination pathway (Hague vs.non-Hague).
3. Submission — Wefile in person with theConnecticut SOTS for state documents andwith theU.S. Department of State forfederal documents.
4. Monitoring — We trackstatus, fix procedural issues fast, 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 (Connecticut)

For dual citizenship, immigration, schoolenrollment, or marriage abroad, a certifiedbirth record often must be apostilled.Obtain acertified copy from yourtown/city or the CT DPH, then we file for aConnecticut birth certificateapostilleand deliver a same-day scan upon issuance.

Marriage Certificate Apostille (Connecticut)

For foreign marriage registration, spousalvisas, or name changes overseas, request acertified copy from Vital Records, and we’llcomplete themarriage certificate apostillewith the Connecticut SOTS.

Divorce Decree Apostille (Connecticut)

For remarriage, custody, or inheritanceabroad, secure acourt-certified copy fromthe clerk; we’ll file for adivorce decree apostilleand return a same-day scan.

Death Certificate Apostille (Connecticut)

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

Diplomas & Transcripts Apostille(Connecticut)

Ministries and employers overseas frequentlyrequireapostilled diplomas & transcripts. We coordinate registrar verification forYale, UConn, Quinnipiac, Trinity, Wesleyan,Sacred Heart, Fairfield, UHart, UNH, CCSU,SCSU, ECSU, WCSU, and CT community collegesbefore filing with the SOTS.

Notarized Affidavits & POAs Apostille(Connecticut)

For real estate, banking, adoption, orbusiness representation abroad, notarizedaffidavits and powers of attorney must meetConnecticut 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 Good Standing,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; theConnecticut SOTS cannot apostille it. Weroute your file to theU.S. Department of State inWashington, D.C., provide asame-day scan uponissuance, and ship the original only ifrequested.

Connecticut Use Cases & Scenarios

• Yale & UConn admissionsabroad— Graduates submittingapostilled diplomas &transcriptsfor master’s/PhD programs in Europe andAsia.
• Fairfield County relocations— Families providing apostilledbirth certificates,marriage certificates, and FBI apostilles for visas.
• Corporate banking —Stamford/Greenwich firms opening overseasaccounts with apostilled Articles, GoodStanding, andcorporate POAs.
• Adoption & family law— Apostilleddivorce decrees, parental consents, and court orders forforeign authorities.
• Estate & inheritance— Apostilleddeath certificatesand probate orders for cross-borderestates.

Connecticut Cities We Serve (Local Coverage)

We support clients across the state—urban,suburban, and shoreline—via secure intake,in-person filing, same-day scans, andoptional shipping. Frequent service areasinclude:

• Hartford County —Hartford, West Hartford, New Britain,Bristol, Newington, Wethersfield,Glastonbury, Manchester, Enfield,Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Bloomfield,Rocky Hill
• New Haven County — NewHaven, Waterbury, Meriden, Hamden,Wallingford, Cheshire, North Haven, EastHaven, Milford, West Haven, Naugatuck,Branford
• Fairfield County —Stamford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Danbury,Greenwich, Fairfield, Shelton, Trumbull,Stratford, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Darien,Westport, Wilton, Monroe, Bethel,Brookfield, Newtown
• New London & Middlesex— New London, Norwich, Groton, Waterford,Stonington, Old Saybrook, Middletown,Cromwell, Clinton, East Haddam, EastHampton
• Litchfield & Tolland &Windham— Torrington, New Milford, Litchfield,Mansfield/Storrs (UConn), Vernon, Tolland,Ellington, Willimantic, Windham, Putnam,Killingly, Woodstock

If you searched “apostille near me Connecticut,” we can help from anywhere in the state.

County & Campus Coverage

We routinely process records fromHartford,New Haven,Fairfield,Litchfield,Middlesex,New London,Tolland, andWindham counties.

Campus work spans:

• Yale University (NewHaven);University of Connecticut(Storrs + regional campuses)
• Quinnipiac University(Hamden);Trinity College(Hartford);Wesleyan University(Middletown)
• Sacred Heart University(Fairfield);Fairfield University(Fairfield)
• University of Hartford(West Hartford);University of New Haven(West Haven)
• CCSU (New Britain);SCSU (New Haven);ECSU (Willimantic);WCSU (Danbury)
• CT State Community College system &independent community colleges

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy LegalizationPath

If your destination country participates inthe Hague Convention, a Connecticutapostille is typically the final step. Fornon-Hague destinations, the process isdifferent:authentication (state orfederal) followed byembassy/consular legalization. Requirements vary by country, documenttype, and sometimes the internal agency(e.g., ministry of justice vs. ministry ofeducation). We map the specific sequence foryour country to prevent returns.

Some destinations requirecertified translations.Depending on the rule set, translations mayneed to be attached after theapostille (as a certified translation of thecomplete packet) or accepted before. Wefollow the destination’s instructionsprecisely.

Real-World Timelines, Risks &Contingencies

Government volumes fluctuate, especiallyduring peak travel seasons and academicdeadlines. With DIY mail-in, seemingly smallmistakes—wrong fee, outdated certificate,incomplete notary wording, missing registrarstep—can add weeks. To protect yourtimeline:

• Front-load readiness —obtain fresh certified copies; use acompliant notary; secure registrarverifications fordiplomas & transcripts apostille.
• In-person filing — if youhave a fixed date (visa appointment,school start, onboarding), avoid mail-inrisks.
• Leverage scans — manyconsulates and schools will pre-processusing oursame-day scan while youroriginal ships.
• Parallel tracks — if yourcase includes both state and federaldocuments, we can run them simultaneously.

Top Connecticut Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong authority — Sendingan FBI report to the Connecticut SOTS or aCT vital record to the U.S. Department ofState. Use the appropriate path:birth certificate apostille,marriage certificate apostille,divorce decree apostille,death certificate apostille.
• 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 are commonlybounced. Follow thediplomas & transcripts apostilleprocess.
• No destination check —Hague vs. non-Hague determines whether youneed an apostille or authentication +legalization.
• Late starts — Mail-indelays plus re-mailing can derailappointments. In-person filing reducesthese risks.

Readiness Checklist (Connecticut)

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

Frequently Asked Questions (ConnecticutApostille)

Who issues apostilles for Connecticutdocuments?

TheConnecticut Secretary of theStateissues apostilles for Connecticut-origindocuments such asbirth certificates,marriage certificates,divorce decrees, court orders,diplomas & transcripts, andnotarized POAs & affidavits.

Can Connecticut apostille my FBIbackground check?

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

How fast can a Connecticut 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 itself does not formallyexpire, but many consulates/universitiesprefer recent issuance (often within 90days). If timing matters, expedite.

Is shipping required?

No.Shipping is optional. Wealways provide asame-day scan. U.S.shipping is $20 flat; internationalshipping is quoted.

What if I need both a birth certificateand a diploma apostilled?

No problem. We can submit parallel tracks:Connecticut birth certificateapostillevia the SOTS anddiplomas & transcripts apostillewith your registrar’s verification.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when required by the destination.We’ll confirm whether translation shouldoccur before or after the apostille tocomply with the country’s rules.

Are you a government office?

No. We are a private expert service. Weprepare, file, monitor, and deliverapostilles 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 fornon-Hague destinations prior toconsular legalization.
• Consular Legalization —Certification by a foreignembassy/consulate for non-Hagueacceptance.
• Registrar Verification —A school registrar confirms academicrecords 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 theConnecticut Secretary of the State and theU.S. Department of State at the time ofyour order.