Everything You Need to Know About Apostilles in Texas 2026

The document is real. The signature is genuine. The seal is official. Yet a foreign government may still refuse to accept it.

That's because documents issued in Texas don't automatically carry legal recognition outside the United States. Before they can be used for immigration, education, marriage, business, or legal purposes abroad, they often need an apostille.

A Texas apostille is an international stamp of authenticity. It tells foreign authorities that the document was properly issued and can be trusted. Without it, even a perfectly valid Texas document can become useless overseas.

This guide explains how apostilles work in Texas, which documents qualify, how long the process takes, what you can do to avoid costly mistakes, and how Globeia’s apostille services in Texas help to get it done accurately and correctly.

A Texas apostille is an official certificate issued exclusively by the Texas Secretary of State. It confirms that the signature, seal, or stamp on a Texas document is authentic and was placed there by someone with the legal authority to issue it. It does not confirm what the document says. It confirms who signed it and whether they were authorized to do so.

Texas issues what is called a Universal Apostille, a single certificate that functions as both an apostille for Hague Convention countries and an authentication certificate for non-Hague countries. This means one Texas certificate covers both categories, something not every state offers.

Once attached, your document is recognized in all 125+ countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, without further review at a foreign embassy or consulate. For non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and China, additional authentication by the US Department of State and consulate legalization is still required after the Texas certificate is issued.

The Texas Secretary of State is the only agency in the state authorized to issue apostilles on Texas documents. County clerks and notaries cannot issue apostilles. They can certify documents or witness signatures as preparation steps, but the apostille itself comes only from the Texas SOS.

Foreign governments and institutions have no built-in way to confirm a Texas document is genuine. The apostille solves that problem by providing a standardized international certification that any Hague member country recognizes immediately.

Here is when a Texas apostille is required:

Employment abroad. Most foreign employers and licensing bodies require apostilled employment verification, background checks, or professional credentials before recognizing your qualifications.

International marriage registration. Foreign civil registries require apostilled birth certificates and sometimes divorce records to confirm your identity and marital status before registering a marriage.

Education enrollment abroad. Universities and academic institutions in most countries require apostilled transcripts and diplomas before evaluating or accepting foreign credentials.

Immigration and residency applications. Many countries require apostilled criminal background checks, birth certificates, and personal documents as standard supporting documentation for visa and residency applications.

International business. Powers of attorney, corporate documents, and contracts used in foreign transactions typically require apostille authentication before foreign authorities or counterparties will recognize them.

Dual citizenship applications. Applicants proving lineage or nationality through a Texas-issued birth certificate are routinely required to submit an apostilled copy.

This is the distinction that determines how your document needs to be prepared before it can be apostilled. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons Texas apostille applications come back unprocessed.

Recordable Documents

Recordable documents are issued and recorded by a Texas government agency at the state, county, or local level. They already carry the authority of the issuing agency and do not require notarization before apostille submission.

Recordable documents include:

• Birth certificates
• Death certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Probated wills
• Background checks from the Texas Department of Public Safety or county agencies
• Court judgments and certified court records
• Burial transit permits
• Vehicle record letters and car title search letters
• Certified copies of business documents on file with the Texas Secretary of State

Non-Recordable Documents

Non-recordable documents are not filed with any government agency. Before they can be apostilled, they must be notarized by a commissioned Texas notary public and must include a typed or written statement from the issuer or signer that describes the content and purpose of the document.

The notarization must include the notary's seal, commission expiration date, signature, and a complete notarial certificate. Incomplete notarizations are one of the most common rejection causes for non-recordable documents.

Non-recordable documents include:

• Notarized letters, affidavits, and declarations
• Certified copies of passports, driver's licenses, or identification documents
• Diplomas and transcripts (must be notarized by a school official, not by the document holder)
• Powers of attorney
• Business contracts, bylaws, and corporate resolutions
• Original wills not filed with a court
• Certified translations of documents

One important note on diplomas and transcripts: These are treated as non-recordable documents in Texas. The school registrar or an authorized school official must notarize them at the time of issuance. You cannot notarize your own diploma. A diploma notarized after issuance by an unaffiliated party does not meet the Texas SOS requirement and will be rejected.

Rather than a generic list, here is exactly where each document type needs to originate and what condition it needs to be in.

• Birth and death certificates come from the Texas Department of State Health Services or the county clerk where the event was recorded. Five-year issuance window applies. For a full walkthrough specific to birth records, read our Texas birth certificate apostille guide.
• Marriage certificates come from the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Five-year window applies.
• Divorce decrees come from the district court that finalized the divorce, bearing the court clerk's seal. Five-year window applies.
• Diplomas and transcripts are notarized documents, not government records. The school official notarizes at issuance, not you, not a friend, not a notary unrelated to the school.
• State and county background checks qualify directly. FBI background checks do not. That distinction trips up more applicants than almost anything else on this list, because people assume "background check" means any background check. It does not. Federal checks go to the US Department of State in Washington, not Austin.
• Powers of attorney, affidavits, and personal statements need full notarization with the signer's own written description of the document's purpose attached.
• Business filings like certificates of formation come directly from the Texas SOS corporations division, with their own separate certification fee before the apostille fee even applies.
• Documents notarized remotely (RON) are accepted, but only with a notarization ledger documenting the date, time, document description, and signer details, alongside a notarial certificate confirming the remote method.

What never qualifies, no matter how it is prepared: Documents issued in another state, anything issued by a federal agency, and documents that were not either issued in Texas or notarized by a Texas notary.

The Texas Secretary of State has issued a few guidelines to complete the apostille process in Texas.

• Document must be issued in Texas or notarized by a commissioned Texas notary public
• Recordable documents must have been issued within the past five years
• Submit original certified copy or properly notarized document only, no photocopies
• Notarized documents must include the notary's seal, name, date, and complete notarial certificate
• Complete Form 2102, the Request for Universal Apostille. For adoption apostilles, use Form 2103 instead
• Specify the destination country on the request form, this is required
• Include correct payment of $15 per document by check, money order, or SOSDirect client account
• Include a prepaid return envelope or prepaid courier label for document return
• Double-check all signatures, seals, and dates are legible before submitting

Working against a deadline or managing this from outside Texas? Globeia's apostille service reviews, prepares, and submits your documents. For a complete document-by-document preparation checklist, see our Texas apostille document preparation guide. 

There are three easy ways to request an apostille from the State of Texas, so applicants can select the one that best suits their needs in terms of time, place, and preferences.

Walk-In Service (Austin Office Only)

Here is something worth knowing before you plan a trip: the in-person apostille office is not where it used to be. If you have an old address saved as 1019 Brazos, that is outdated. The office is now at:

Texas Secretary of State

Authentications Unit

400 W. 15th Street

Austin, TX 78701

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, but "open" does not automatically mean you can walk in and be seen. Mondays and Fridays are true walk-in days, no appointment needed. Tuesday through Thursday work differently, those days are appointment-only, booked in advance through sos.texas.gov. You are limited to one appointment per person or company each day.

Each visit, walk-in, or appointment caps out at 10 apostille transactions. More than that, you will need the bulk request drop box instead, which runs on a 24 to 48-hour turnaround.

Upon arrival for walk-in service, you will join a queue by scanning a QR code at the guard's desk and receive a confirmation with further instructions. Same-day processing does not mean an instant visit, expect wait times ranging from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on how busy the office is.

Bring your original certified or notarized document, a completed Form 2102 with the destination country written in, and payment. The office accepts cash (exact amount only, no change given), check, money order, or credit/debit card, though card payments carry a 2.7% convenience fee. If paying by check or money order in person, the name on it must match your ID.

For more detail on visiting the Austin office in person, including parking and what to expect on arrival, read our Austin apostille office guide.

Mail-In Apostille Requests

If Austin is not realistic for you, whether you live elsewhere in Texas or somewhere else entirely, mailing your request is the alternative. You will send your original certified or notarized document, a completed Form 2102 naming your destination country, payment, and a prepaid return envelope or courier label to:

Office of the Texas Secretary of State

Authentications Unit

P.O. Box 12887

Austin, TX 78711-2887

This is the part where expectations need adjusting. Mailed requests currently take up to 25 business days to process once they arrive, and that clock does not start until your envelope actually lands in Austin, not when you drop it in the mailbox. The Secretary of State's own office has been upfront that this 25-day figure can run longer when demand is high, so treat it as a floor rather than a promise.

For payment by mail, you are limited to check or money order drawn from a US bank, made out to the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, or you can fund an SOS Client Account ahead of time. Cash does not work through the mail, only in person.

Professional Apostille Service

A professional service submits your documents in person at the Austin office, bypassing the mail queue entirely. This is the most practical option for applicants outside Texas, those with tight deadlines, or anyone managing multiple documents who cannot travel to Austin.

Globeia's Texas apostille service reviews your documents, identifies whether they are recordable or non-recordable, prepares Form 2102, and submits directly to the Texas Secretary of State on your behalf. Completed apostilles are returned to your address. Globeia provides Texas apostille support across the state including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

The Texas Secretary of State charges a flat $15 per document for standard apostille requests. For adoption-related apostilles, the fee is $10 per document with total fees capped at $100 per child. Use Form 2103 for all adoption requests, not Form 2102.

Beyond the state fee, here is the full picture of what you will pay:

• Certified copy fee. Before the apostille process starts, you need a certified copy of your document from the issuing authority. DSHS charges its own fee for birth, death, and marriage certificates. This is paid separately to the issuing office, not the Texas SOS.
• Notarization fee. Non-recordable documents require notarization by a commissioned Texas notary public. Notary fees in Texas are regulated by state law but vary by provider.
• Return shipping. Include a prepaid return label for tracked return. International applicants must include a prepaid international courier label, since without one documents are only returned to a US address.
• Professional service fee. If you use a professional service to manage preparation and submission, their fee is charged separately from all state and preparation fees above.

Payment rules by submission method:

• By mail: Check or money order only, drawn from a US bank, payable to the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Checks must include your full name, complete address, and signature. Money orders must also be drawn from a US bank. No cash by mail.
• In person: Cash in exact amount only, no change given. Check, money order, credit/debit card, or SOSDirect client account are also accepted. Verify current fees at sos.texas.gov before submitting.

It depends on how you submit, but none of these timelines are guaranteed. They depend on the Texas Secretary of State's current workload, staffing, office closures, and whether your application is accepted the first time.

• Walk-in or appointment: Same day for most complete submissions. Walk-in works on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesday through Thursday requires an appointment. Even this can take longer than expected if the office is short-staffed, closed for a state holiday, or handling higher volume than usual that day.
• Mail-in: Up to 25 business days once your documents arrive, not from when you mail them. The Texas SOS has acknowledged that this can run longer during periods of high demand. Plan for six to eight weeks total if you are mailing from outside Texas, and treat that as the realistic floor rather than the ceiling.
• Professional service: Submitted in person, so it skips the mail wait. Typically 1 to 2 business days at the office, though this is still subject to the same office conditions as any other in-person submission.

If your document is missing the destination country on Form 2102, the notarization is incomplete, or a recordable document is past its five-year window, the timeline resets. You need to start over with a fresh submission.

Because of this, build in buffer time beyond whatever figure you are working with, whether that is same-day or 25 business days. The Texas SOS timeline is a baseline the office sets, not a fixed promise, and it can shift based on conditions outside anyone's control.

A Texas apostille is a single-page official certificate issued by the Texas Secretary of State. It is meant to be attached to an original or notarized document to validate its authenticity for international purposes. The apostille’s format follows the standards established by the Hague Apostille Convention.

Here are the key details included in the certificate:

• Title: "Apostille" (Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961) displayed at the top.
• Issuing Authority: The Texas Secretary of State, with their official seal and signature.
• Other Information: The name and title of the person who signed the original document.
• Seal or Stamp: Confirmation that the attached document carries the correct official seal or notary stamp.
• Date and Location: The date and place where the apostille was issued.
• Registration Number: Authentication ID number.
• Signature and Stamp: The authorized officer's printed name and hand-signed signature, along with the embossed state seal.

Most rejections have nothing to do with the underlying document. They come from preparation errors that could have been caught before anything was mailed.

1. Wrong walk-in address. In-person services moved from 1019 Brazos to 400 W. 15th Street in Austin. Arriving at the old address means a wasted trip and a lost day.
2. Arriving on an appointment-only day without an appointment. Walk-in service without an appointment is only available on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays require an appointment booked at sos.texas.gov.
3. Recordable document older than five years. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and similar recordable documents must have been issued within the past five years. An older document requires a new certified copy before the apostille process can begin.
4. Destination country not specified on Form 2102. This is one of the most commonly missed requirements. Without a destination country, the Texas SOS cannot process the request.
5. Incomplete notarization on non-recordable documents. Missing notary seal, expired commission date, incomplete notarial certificate, or wrong notary format causes the entire application to come back. For diplomas and transcripts, the notarization must be performed by the school official at the time of issuance.
6. Wrong payment method by mail. Cash is not accepted by mail. Only checks and money orders drawn from a US bank are accepted for mail-in submissions.
7. Submitting a document for a different state. The Texas SOS can only apostille documents issued in Texas or notarized by a Texas notary. Documents from other states must go to those states' respective Secretaries of State.

A Texas apostille is not complicated once you understand two things: whether your document is recordable or non-recordable, and which submission method actually fits your timeline. Most of the friction people run into has nothing to do with their document being invalid. It comes down to working from outdated information, an old office address, assuming any weekday works for walk-in, missing the five-year window on a recordable document, or leaving the destination country blank on Form 2102.

In-person service at 400 W. 15th Street in Austin is typically same-day, available without an appointment on Mondays and Fridays, or by booking ahead Tuesday through Thursdays. Mail-in currently takes up to 25 business days from the date your documents arrive, and that window can stretch further when the office is handling high demand, so it is best reserved for situations where your deadline has real room to spare.

If you are working against a tighter timeline, applying from outside Texas, or would simply rather not manage the appointment system and document classification yourself, Globeia's Texas apostille service reviews your documents, prepares Form 2102 correctly the first time, and submits in person at the Austin office on your behalf.

Get Your Texas Apostille with Globeia Today