Apostille in Georgia: Complete 2026 Guide to the GSCCCA Process

Do you have a Georgia-issued birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma, or another document that needs to be used abroad? You may be asked to get an apostille before submitting it to a foreign authority. Getting an apostille in Georgia can be confusing if you are not sure where to submit your document, whether you need an apostille or another type of authentication, or what requirements you need to meet.

The process also depends on where your document will be used. Documents going to countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention follow a different process from documents intended for countries that are not part of the Convention. 

This guide explains how to get an apostille in Georgia, including which documents can be apostilled, where to apply, the requirements, cost, processing time, and the difference between apostille and authentication. It also covers how professional apostille coordination services, like those offered by Globeia, can simplify the process for applicants living outside Georgia or those who need additional steps after authentication.

A Georgia apostille is a certificate issued by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) that authenticates the signature, stamp, or seal of the official who signed a Georgia document. It is used to help the document be accepted in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apostille does not verify the contents of the document. It only confirms the authenticity of the signature on the document.

The correct office depends on the country where your document will be used. The GSCCCA issues apostilles for countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, while the Georgia Secretary of State provides Great Seal Certifications for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention.

Note: If you do not know whether your destination country is a Hague member, check the official Hague Conference member list before submitting to either office.

If your destination country appears on the GSCCCA's current Hague country list, the apostille process applies. If it is not listed, the GSCCCA directs applicants to the Georgia Secretary of State for a Great Seal Certification instead.

Note: It is important to understand this distinction, because the two certifications are not interchangeable. Check the destination country's requirements before submitting your document so you use the correct process from the start.

You usually need an apostille when you are taking documents from Georgia and using it for an application, transaction, or a legal matter in another country. Here are the most common situations:

Moving Abroad

Visa, residency, and immigration applications may require you to submit several personal records. Depending on the destination and application, you could be asked for a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or criminal record check.

Applying for Citizenship

Citizenship-by-descent applications often require documents that establish your connection to a parent, or another family member. Georgia vital records may therefore need certification before they can be presented to a foreign consulate or government office.

Adoption

International adoption involves paperwork from different stages of the process. When a record issued in Georgia forms part of an overseas adoption file, the relevant authority may require it to carry an apostille before accepting it.

Working in Another Country

An overseas employer or licensing body may want evidence of your qualifications or professional history. Depending on the role, this could involve diplomas, degrees, licenses, or background checks.

Studying Overseas

Schools and universities sometimes ask international applicants for verified academic records. If your degree, diploma, transcript, or other educational record was issued in Georgia, you may need to have it authenticated before sending it abroad.

Business or Legal Transactions

Companies and individuals may also encounter apostille requirements when handling matters outside the United States. Powers of attorney, corporate paperwork, court records, and other legal documents may require certification before they can be presented to an overseas authority.

Georgia can apostille documents that originate in the state and meet the requirements for authentication. If your document was issued in another U.S. state, by a federal agency, or by a foreign government, Georgia is not the authority that handles its apostille.

The requirements also vary depending on the type of document you have.

• Vital Records

Georgia birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are commonly used for immigration, citizenship, and other applications abroad. A certified copy from the appropriate Georgia authority is generally required.

Common examples include:

1. Birth certificates
2. Death certificates
3. Marriage certificates
4. Divorce decrees or records

• Notarized Documents

Private documents can be apostilled when they have been properly notarized by a Georgia notary. The original notarization must meet the applicable Georgia requirements before the document can be submitted for an apostille.

Examples include:

1. Powers of attorney
2. Affidavits
3. Parental consent documents
4. Certain contracts and business documents

For notarized documents, the notary's commission and signature are part of what the authentication process verifies.

• Educational Documents

Diplomas, transcripts, and other academic records may require additional certification or notarization before they can be apostilled. The exact preparation depends on the document and the school or institution that issued it.

Common examples include:

1. High school diplomas
2. College and university diplomas
3. Academic transcripts
4. Graduation or enrollment letters
5. Certain professional or educational certificates

• Business and Corporate Documents

Business records can also require authentication when they are being used for commercial or legal purposes outside the United States. The appropriate certification depends on who issued or certified the document.

Examples may include:

1. Articles of incorporation
2. Certificates of good standing
3. Corporate records
4. Business-related documents
5. Powers of attorney used for business matters

• Court and Legal Documents

Certain Georgia court records can be apostilled when they have been properly certified by the appropriate court authority.

Examples include:

1. Court orders
2. Certified court records
3. Name-change records
4. Adoption-related court documents

Note: If your document was issued outside Georgia, is a federal record, or comes from another country, you will need to follow the authentication process of the authority responsible for that document.

Before submitting your documents for an apostille, confirm your document meets every requirement below. A single missing element causes the submission to be returned without processing:

Document format:

• Original certified copies only - photocopies, scanned copies, and faxed documents are not accepted
• No lamination - apostilles cannot be physically attached to laminated documents and laminated submissions are automatically rejected
• No alterations, handwritten corrections, strike-throughs, or visible changes
• All pages must be included - incomplete documents are returned

For notarised documents:

• Notary's full name and original signature
• Commission expiration date - must be active at the time of notarisation
• Official notary seal
• County of commission
• No expired commissions - a document notarised after the notary's commission expired will be rejected

For vital records:

• Must be certified copies bearing the signature and official seal of the issuing state or county official
• Must not be notarised

Language:

• Documents must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation
• Foreign-language documents must be translated by a certified translator and notarised where required

Important: Order at least two certified copies of any vital record. Keep one for your records and submit one for apostille. If a document is rejected or lost in transit, having a spare copy avoids reordering from the issuing authority.

Once your document is ready, the remaining process involves preparing the submission, sending the document to the GSCCCA, and checking the completed document before using it in another country.

Step 1 - Gather Your Documents and Payment

You need to put together everything required for your submission.

For a mail-in request, prepare these four items:

• The document: The document you are submitting for apostille.
• A request letter or instructional note: Include your name, contact information, and the destination country where the document will be used.
• Payment: The GSCCCA accepts personal or company checks, money orders, and its credit card pre-payment voucher system for mail-in requests.
• A prepaid, self-addressed return envelope or airbill: This allows the GSCCCA to return your completed documents to you.

If you are using FedEx or UPS for the return shipment, the return airbill must be computer-generated; handwritten airbills are not accepted by the GSCCCA.

Pro tip: Make a scan or copy of your documents before sending them. Keep it with your records until the completed apostilled document is safely returned.

Step 2 - Submit the Request

You can submit the request yourself or have someone handle the physical submission for you.

• In person: Take your documents directly to the GSCCCA Atlanta office during public counter hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as specified on the GSCCCA General Apostille Information Page). No appointment is required.
• By mail: Send the complete package to GSCCCA, Attn: Notary Division, 1875 Century Blvd., Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30345.
• Via Drop Box: If you arrive outside counter hours or wish to avoid the line, you can deposit your completed packet (with payment and a prepaid return envelope) in the GSCCA drop box located directly outside Suite 100.
• Through a professional service: If you are outside Georgia or do not want to manage the submission and return of your documents yourself, a professional service can coordinate these steps on your behalf. Globeia can assist with document review, submission, tracking, and return.

Step 3 - Track the Submission

Once the request has been submitted, keep your shipping or tracking information until the completed document is returned.

For mail-in requests, the GSCCCA states that processing normally takes one to two business days after receipt. Your overall turnaround will also depend on the time required for the document to reach the office and return to you.

If a professional service is handling the request, it can monitor the submission and coordinate the return of your documents.

Step 4 - Review the Completed Document

When the apostilled document arrives, check it before sending it to the organisation that requested it.

Make sure:

• The apostille is attached to the correct document.
• The information shown on the apostille is accurate.
• The document and apostille remain attached together.
• The completed document is in the condition in which you received it.

Do not remove, detach, or alter the apostille.

Note: If you use a third party provider or Globeia for apostille coordination, its service fee is separate from the GSCCCA government fee and covers services such as document review, submission coordination, and tracking.

A Georgia apostille request can be delayed or returned when the submission does not meet the GSCCCA's requirements. Some problems are easy to avoid, but they can still create extra work if they are discovered after your documents have already been sent.

Managing the paperwork, submission, and document return can be inconvenient for many applicants. It becomes even more difficult if you are not in Georgia. Globeia provides an online process that lets you start the request remotely and the trained team coordinates the submission as well as the return of your documents.

Here is how Globeia’s Georgia Apostille coordination services work: 

Step 1 - Start Your Application Online

Begin the process by filling out Globeia’s SmartForm. Provide your contact information, mention document type, and the country where you plan to use the document.

This is how Globeia will have the information needed to review your request and determine the appropriate next steps.

Step 2 - Upload Your Document for Review

Upload a clear copy of your document through the portal. Globeia's team reviews the submission to check the document's eligibility and whether the required certification or notarisation is in place.

If anything else is needed before processing can begin, the team can let you know before the document is submitted.

Step 3 - Complete Payment and Send the Original if Required

After the document review, Globeia confirms the service and applicable payment.

Depending on the type of document, you may need to send the original to Globeia. The team will confirm this after reviewing your document, so you do not have to mail an original unnecessarily.

Step 4 - Track Your Request Through SmartPortal

Once your apostille application is underway, you can use Globeia's SmartPortal to monitor its progress.

Globeia coordinates the submission of your documents to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) and keeps the request moving through the apostille process.

Step 5 - Receive Your Apostilled Documents

After the apostille has been completed, Globeia arranges delivery of your documents to your location.

Documents can be delivered within the United States or internationally. Additional shipping charges may apply for international delivery.

A Georgia apostille may involve only a $3 government fee, but the process does not end with paying that fee. Your document still needs to be suitable for submission, the request needs to reach the correct authority, and the completed document must be returned in a form that can be used for your application abroad.

This is where Globeia’s Georgia apostille coordination service can make the process easier. You can submit your document details and a copy online, have the document reviewed before submission, and receive guidance on any certification or notarisation that may be required. Globeia then coordinates the submission to the GSCCCA, provides status tracking through SmartPortal, and arranges return delivery to your U.S. or international address.

Need a Georgia apostille? Have your document reviewed by Globeia and start your application today.