Massachusetts Apostille Guide 2026: Process, Requirements, and All Three Offices

Need a Massachusetts apostille for documents being used overseas? The process starts with using the correct document and submitting it to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, the only authority that issues apostilles for Massachusetts public documents and notarized records. The state fee is $6 per document, with same-day walk-in service available in Boston for eligible submissions and mail requests typically completed within 2–3 weeks.

Before you apply, it's important to know whether your document qualifies for an apostille in Massachusetts, if notarization is required, and when a federal apostille is needed instead. This guide walks you through the complete process so you can prepare your documents correctly and avoid delays or rejected applications.

If you need help with a specific document, Globeia also provides dedicated guides for obtaining a Massachusetts Birth Certificate Apostille and a Massachusetts Marriage Certificate Apostille.

A MA apostille is an official certificate issued by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth that verifies the authenticity of a Massachusetts public document or a properly notarized document for use in another country.

An apostille confirms:

• The signature on the document is genuine.
• The signer was authorized to sign the document.
• Any official seal or stamp on the document is authentic.

It does not certify that the information within the document is true or accurate. For example, a birth certificate apostille does not verify the birth details themselves - it simply confirms that the certificate was issued or certified by the appropriate Massachusetts authority.

Once issued, a Massachusetts apostille allows the document to be accepted in countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, eliminating the need for embassy or consular legalization in those countries.

If your document will be used in a non-Hague country such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon, an apostille alone is not sufficient. Instead, the document must go through the U.S. authentication and embassy legalization process before it can be accepted abroad.

Important: Since January 11, 2024, Canada has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. As a result, Massachusetts-issued apostilles are now accepted in Canada without requiring embassy legalization.

Massachusetts residents typically need an apostille when their state-issued documents must be accepted in another country. The most common situations include citizenship, immigration, marriage, education, employment, and international business.

Italian and Portuguese Citizenship by Descent

Many residents in Greater Boston, Fall River, and New Bedford apply for citizenship by descent through Italy or Portugal. These applications often require apostilled birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates for multiple generations of family records.

Read Globeia Blog: Boston’s Complete Apostille Guide 2026

India OCI Applications

Massachusetts residents applying for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card may need apostilled documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or other supporting records, depending on their application requirements.

Marriage Abroad

If you plan to marry outside the U.S., the destination country may require apostilled documents such as birth certificates, single-status documents, divorce records, or marriage records before accepting them.

Employment, Licensing, and Education Abroad

Professionals and students moving overseas may need apostilles for diplomas, transcripts, professional licenses, and background checks. These are commonly requested for credential verification and international applications.

Immigration and Residency

Foreign immigration authorities often request apostilled birth certificates, marriage records, court documents, and background checks for visa and residency applications.

International Business

Massachusetts businesses expanding overseas may need apostilles for corporate documents, including certificates of incorporation, certificates of good standing, powers of attorney, and board resolutions.

Not every document goes straight to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Some need preparation before they are eligible. This table covers the most common document types and exactly what each requires before submission.

Important note on diplomas and transcripts. The official Massachusetts SOS process for school records is: the school registrar certifies the record in the presence of a Massachusetts notary. The notary then notarizes the registrar's signature. That notarized document then goes to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for the apostille. You cannot skip the notarization step for academic documents.

Important note on FBI background checks. An FBI Identity History Summary is issued by the US Department of Justice - it is a federal document. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth has no authority to apostille it. Federal documents must go to the US Department of State for authentication. Sending an FBI check to the Massachusetts SOS is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes in the entire process.

The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth can only apostille documents that were:

• Issued by a Massachusetts government authority, or
• Notarized by a Massachusetts-commissioned notary public

It cannot apostille documents issued by any US federal agency. This includes FBI background checks, US citizenship certificates, naturalization records, US passport copies, and any document issued by a federal department or agency.

Federal documents must go through the US Department of State authentication process in Washington DC. The process, timeline, and fees are entirely different from the state apostille route.

If you are unsure whether your document is state-issued or federal, check the letterhead and issuing authority. Documents from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts go to the SOS. Documents from any agency of the United States government go to the US Department of State.

Only the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Commissions Section issues apostilles in Massachusetts. No county office, no notary, no local court, and no third-party company can issue one. Notaries prepare documents for apostille - they do not issue apostilles. Apostille coordination services like Globeia submit documents to the Secretary's office on your behalf - they do not issue apostilles.

The three offices that accept walk-in submissions and mail:

Boston Office:

Secretary of the Commonwealth - Commissions Section 

Springfield Office:

Secretary of the Commonwealth 

Fall River Office:

Secretary of the Commonwealth 

Check and verify the Massachusetts office locations.

All three offices handle the same document types. Walk-in hours are Monday to Friday. Arrive before 4:00 PM to ensure same-day processing.

These four terms are used interchangeably by people who have never encountered them before. They are not the same.

• Notarization is a domestic process. A commissioned Massachusetts notary verifies a signature, witnesses a signing, or certifies a copy. Notarization is not recognized abroad on its own - it is the prerequisite for an apostille on documents that require it.
• Apostille is the international authentication certificate issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It makes a Massachusetts document legally recognized in 130 Hague Convention countries. It is the only additional step needed for Hague countries.
• Document legalization is required for non-Hague countries. It involves US Department of State authentication after the state-level certification, followed by legalization at the destination country's embassy. This is a longer, more expensive process than the apostille route.
• Certification of Appointment is a separate document also issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Foreign authorities sometimes request it alongside an apostille to confirm that the notary who signed the document was legally commissioned and in good standing at the time of notarization. It is not the same as an apostille and should not be confused with it.

Choosing the correct process depends entirely on the destination country. If it is a Hague member, an apostille is what you need. If it is not, legalization applies. The destination country should tell you which one they require - if they do not specify, confirm before preparing any documents.

When a document requires notarization before apostille, the Secretary of the Commonwealth checks four specific things before accepting it. Missing any one of them results in rejection:

• The notary has signed exactly as they were commissioned - not a variation, nickname, or shortened version.
• The notarial certificate has been fully completed with no blank fields.
• The notary's commission expiry date appears on the document correctly, clearly, and completely.
• The notary's seal is affixed to the document, and the imprint is legible.

These are not optional checks. They are what the Commissions Section verifies before processing. Having a document notarized and then discovering the expiry date was not included means the document must be re-notarized before submission.

Four types of notarial acts in Massachusetts:

• Acknowledgment - The signer appears before the notary, presents valid ID, and confirms the signature on the document was made voluntarily. Required for notarized documents going to a foreign country under Massachusetts rules.
• Jurat - The signer appears before the notary, is identified, signs in the notary's presence, and takes an oath that the document's contents are true. Used for affidavits and sworn statements.
• Signature Witnessing - The notary witnesses the signing and confirms the signer's identity without requiring an oath.
• Copy Certification - The notary compares a copy to the original and certifies the copy is accurate and complete.

The Massachusetts apostille fee is $6 per document, making it one of the lowest state authentication fees in the U.S. The fee applies to each document submitted, regardless of the number of pages. For example, if you need apostilles for three documents, the total government fee is $18.

Payment must be made by check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When submitting documents, include the country where the document will be used so the Secretary of the Commonwealth can issue the correct type of authentication.

Total Additional Costs for an Apostille document in Massachusetts

The $6 state apostille fee does not include other costs that may be required to prepare or send your documents. Your total expense depends on the type of document and the services needed before submission.

Understanding the official fee, processing timeline, and possible preparation costs helps you submit your Massachusetts apostille request correctly the first time.

Processing Time to Complete Apostille MA

Processing time depends on how you submit your documents. Walk-in applications are generally faster, while mailed requests require additional time for delivery and handling.

Why Apostille Timelines May Vary

Even when a standard timeline is provided, your request may take longer if:

• The document format does not meet Massachusetts requirements.
• A required certification or notarization is missing.
• Incorrect fees or payment details are submitted.
• Documents need to be corrected and resubmitted.
• Mail delivery or return shipping causes delays.

Preparing documents correctly before submission is the best way to avoid unnecessary delays.

In Person at Any of the Three Offices

Walk in with your certified or notarized document, the completed apostille request form, and payment. The Boston office processes up to three documents while you wait. Four or more documents are ready for pickup the next business day after 3:00 PM. Any submissions after 4:00 PM are processed the following day.

This is the fastest option and the one to use if you have an urgent deadline and can travel to Boston, Springfield, or Fall River.

By Mail

Send the following to the Secretary's office at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108:

• Completed Massachusetts apostille request form
• Original document or certified copy
• Check or money order for $6 per document payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts" with destination country noted
• Prepaid self-addressed return envelope

For faster return, include a prepaid FedEx or DHL envelope with a billing account number. Do not include a credit card as prepayment. Do not send cash.

Mail processing takes two to three weeks from the date the office receives your documents. This does not include postal transit time in either direction. International applicants should budget four to six weeks total from sending to receiving the completed apostille.

Through Apostille Coordination Service Globeia

Globeia reviews your documents before submission to confirm eligibility, handles delivery to the Secretary's office, and arranges return delivery to your address anywhere in the world. This is the most practical route for applicants outside Massachusetts or outside the United States, or for anyone managing multiple documents simultaneously.

All apostilles are issued exclusively by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Globeia coordinates the process so your documents arrive correctly prepared the first time.

Start your Massachusetts apostille with Globeia!

Go through this list before sealing the envelope. Every returned application traces back to at least one of these points:

• The document was issued in Massachusetts or notarized by a Massachusetts-commissioned notary.
• Original or certified copy confirmed - no photocopies, no scanned copies.
• The document is complete, legible, and unaltered.
• For notarized documents: notary signed exactly as commissioned, certificate fully completed, expiry date visible, seal legible.
• Apostille request form completed with destination country named.
• $6 per document check or money order payable to "Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
• Destination country noted on the check itself.
• No cash in the envelope.
• Prepaid self-addressed return envelope or prepaid courier envelope with billing account number included.
• No credit card included for express return prepayment.
• Destination country confirmed as a Hague Convention member before submitting.
• Federal documents (FBI checks) sent to the US Department of State, not to Massachusetts SOS.

A Massachusetts apostille is valid in all 130 Hague Convention member countries. For countries outside the Convention, it will not be accepted regardless of how correctly it was prepared.

Countries where a Massachusetts apostille is not currently recognized include the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and others. For these countries, the correct process is Massachusetts SOS certification followed by US Department of State authentication followed by the destination country's embassy legalization. The UAE adds MOFA attestation after arrival as a final step.

For non-Hague countries, Globeia's USA authentication and legalization service handles the complete chain including US Department of State submission and embassy coordination.

A Massachusetts apostille does not have to be complicated. The key is making sure your document is eligible, properly prepared, and submitted to the correct authority before starting the process.

Before sending your documents, check three things: confirm the document type, complete any required notarization or certification, and verify whether your destination country requires an apostille or a different legalization process.

Most delays happen before the apostille request reaches the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Missing information, incorrect document formats, payment issues, or submitting documents to the wrong office can lead to delays or rejection.

If you are unsure about the requirements or need help managing the process, Globeia’s Massachusetts apostille service can assist with document review, submission coordination, and return delivery for documents being used internationally.