Frequently Asked Questions:
Maryland Apostille and Authentication Services
General Questions
- What is a Maryland Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
- How can I obtain an Apostille Stamp to certify a document in Maryland for use abroad?
- How do I legalize documents issued in Maryland for submission to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention?
- How long does it take to obtain an apostille from Maryland?
- What documents can be certified in Maryland with an Apostille Stamp?
- Will an apostille stamp from Maryland be accepted abroad?
- Where can I find more information about certifying Maryland documents?
- Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Maryland Attestation and Apostille Services?
- What does a Maryland Apostille look like?
Birth, death and marriage certificates
- How can I obtain an apostille on a vital record certificate issued in Maryland?
- How can I obtain a new certified copy of a Maryland birth, death or marriage certificate suitable for an Apostille?
Academic documents
Notarized documents
Answers
What is a Maryland Apostille Stamp and why would I need one?
A Maryland Apostille is a certificate that is affixed by the Maryland Secretary of State to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized Maryland public official and confirms the capacity of that official (e.g. State Registrar, notary public).
Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a Maryland document, such as a birth certificate, to the authorities of a foreign country or to a foreign embassy in the United States (for example, as part of a visa or citizenship application). Apostilles are recognised by the authorities and embassies of countries that are members of the 
Hague Apostille Convention
For more information on Apostilles, see:
How can I obtain an Apostille Stamp to certify a document in Maryland for use abroad?
Apostille Stamps to authenticate Maryland documents can be obtained from the Secretary of State. Apostille stamps are only valid for documents that are required for submission to countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention
How do I legalize documents issued in Maryland for submission to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention?
Maryland documents that need to be authenticated for non-apostille countries (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar) must be authenticated by the Maryland Secretary of State with an Authentication Certificate and then attested by the recipient country's embassy in the United States. Most embassies will also require an additional authentication the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC.
How long does it take to obtain an apostille from Maryland?
Maryland Apostilles are normally obtained in 3-5 Business Days
A one-day service is also available for urgent requests.
What documents can be certified in Maryland with an Apostille Stamp?
Maryland apostilles can be issued to authenticate state public documents, including:
- Maryland birth and death certificates (signed by the State Registrar or certified by the Maryland State Archives or county circuit court)
- University diplomas and transcripts (certified by a Maryland notary)
- Maryland State Background Checks
- Maryland Certificates of Status (Good Standing), Articles of Organization and other business documents certified by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
- Private documents such as powers of attorney, certified by a Maryland notary.
To confirm whether your Maryland document is valid for an Apostille Stamp, please Contact us for a free document check.
Will an apostille stamp from Maryland be accepted abroad?
If documents are required for submission to the authorities or consulate of a signatory country of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille stamp affixed by the Secretary of State of Maryland will generally be recognized directly as confirming authenticity, although a certified translation may also be required if presenting to a country that does not have English as an official language.
If documents are required for presentation in a country that is not a signatory to the apostille convention (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Taiwan, Vietnam), then an apostille stamp is not valid. Documents will need to be authenticated at State level in Maryland, then by the State Department Authentication Division, and finally by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in the United States. A Certified Translation may also be required.
Where can I find more information about certifying Maryland documents?
For further information about Maryland apostilles and authentications or to obtain a quote for assistance submitting your documents, with free eligibility pre-check, international collection and delivery by courier, please Contact us or send us your documents using our Online Quotation Form.
Where can I see reviews of Isarey's Maryland Attestation and Apostille Services?
You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:
What does a Maryland Apostille look like?
Maryland Apostilles follow the standard format laid down in the Apostille Convention. Some examples of Maryland documents certified with Apostille stamps:
How can I obtain an apostille on a vital record certificate issued in Maryland?
Maryland vital records can be authenticated with an Apostille Stamp issued by the Maryland Secretary of State in Annapolis. Maryland birth, death and marriage certificates must be signed by the Maryland State Registrar or certified by the Maryland State Archives. Marriage certificates can also be certified by Country Circuit Courts.
How can I obtain a new certified copy of a Maryland birth, death or marriage certificate suitable for an Apostille?
Maryland birth certificates may be ordered online from VitalChek - Order Maryland vital records online or by mail from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. Certified birth records from prior to 1925 can be obtained from the Maryland State Archives. Certified copies of Maryland birth certificates from 1923 onwards are available only to the person named in the certificate, spouse or parent.
Maryland marriage certificates may be ordered online from VitalChek - Order Maryland vital records online or by mail from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore (marriages in or after 2007). Certificates for marriages registered before 2007 should be obtained from the circuit court of the Maryland county where the marriage took. Certificates for marriages registered before 1952 are available from the Maryland State Archives. Maryland marriage certificates are restricted to the spouses named on the certificate or authorised representative.
Maryland death certificates for deaths occurring in or after 2012 may be ordered online from VitalChek - Order Maryland vital records online or by mail from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. Certificates for deaths occurring registered before 2012 should be obtained from the Maryland State Archives. Certificates are restricted to surviving relatives or authorized representative of the deceased.
How can I authenticate Maryland university degree certificates for use abroad?
Maryland university transcripts and diplomas must first be certified by a Maryland notary public - either by witnessing the signature of the school principal, registrar or official, or upon presentation of unopened sealed school documents. The notary's signature and good standing must then be certified by the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned.
Once certified by the county court, certificates and transcripts can be authenticated by the Maryland Secretary of State with an Apostille Stamp or an Authentication Certificate.
Maryland university degrees can also be authenticated as true copies, certified by a notary and apostille stamp in Washington DC.
Apostille STATE University Diplomas
Maryland university degree certificates, course transcripts and high school diplomas can also be authenticated as notarized copies. A true copy is certified by a notary (this can often be done from a scan without having to submit the original) and then authenticated with an Apostille Stamp from the Washington DC Secretary of State. Authenticated documents can also be attested by the embassies of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates.
For further information, see:
University Degrees and School Records
How can I authenticate notarized documents in Maryland for use abroad?
Documents which have certified by a Maryland notary public must be further certified by the clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned. Apostille stamps and authentication certificates can then be obtained from the Maryland Secretary of State.
How can I obtain an apostille in Maryland for a Power of Attorney or Affidavit?
Powers of Attorney and Affidavits notarized by a Maryland notary public must be certified by the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned. They can then be certified with an Apostille stamp from the Maryland Secretary of State for presentation abroad.
How can I get a quote to certify my documents?
To receive a quote, you can upload your documents using our online quotation form or send us your documents by email. After reviewing your documents and requirements, we will get back to you with a quotation:
If you don’t have the documents available, just describe the documents you need to certify, and we will get back to you with an estimation of cost and delivery times.
Using our quotation form, your documents will be uploaded over a secure connection and immediately encrypted on our server. For added protection, you can upload password-protected files and provide us with the passwords separately:
PDF,
PERSONAL DATA: If your documents contain personal data belonging to people outside your household, please ensure that you are authorised to share this data before uploading your documents. If your documents contain sensitive personal data, such as biometric data, medical data or data on criminal convictions, please ensure that you indicate this when prompted, upon submitting your documents. For further information on our processing of personal data contained in uploaded documents, please see:
Privacy Policy (Customer Inquiries)
For further information on confidentiality in our handling of document content please see:
Confidentiality (Client Content)