South Carolina Apostille FAQs

A South Carolina Apostille is a certificate that is affixed by the South Carolina Secretary of State to a public document. It certifies the authenticity of the signature appearing on the document as that of an authorized South Carolina public official and confirms the capacity of that official (e.g. State Registrar, notary public).

Apostille stamps are often required when submitting a South Carolina 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:

• The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)
• South Carolina Apostille and Authentication Services

Apostille Stamps to authenticate South Carolina 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

• South Carolina Apostille and Authentication Services

South Carolina documents that need to be authenticated for non-apostille countries (e.g. United Arab Emirates, Qatar) must be authenticated by the South Carolina 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.

• South Carolina Apostille and Authentication Services

Apostille are normally obtained from the South Carolina Secretary of State in 1-2 weeks

Apostilles and authentications from South Carolina can be provided for documents bearing the signature of any elected or appointed official whose signature is filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, including:

• Certified birth and death records issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
• Certified marriage records issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health or County Probate Court.
• Certified Divorce Reports and Decrees issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health or Clerk of the Court in the County where the divorce was decreed.
• Certificates of Existence and other company documents issued or certified by the South Carolina Secretary of State.
• Notarized South Carolina Criminal History Certificates.
• Certified South Carolina Driving Records
• Notarized South Carolina university and high school diplomas and transcripts.

Other documents must be duly certified by a South Carolina notary.

To confirm whether your South Carolina document is valid for an Apostille Stamp, please Contact us for a free document check.

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina, 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.

For further information about South Carolina 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.

You can see reviews from past clients who have used our attestation and apostille services:

• ISAREY reviews on Trustpilot
• ISAREY reviews on Google

Apostilles to authenticate South Carolina birth, death and marriage certificates are available form the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Death and birth certificates must be provided by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (Vital Records Division). Marriage certificates must be issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health or certified by the Probate Court in the county where the marriage licence was issued. Photocopies of vital records, including notarized copies, are not acceptable.

For further information about authenticating South Carolina vital records, see:
Apostille South Carolina Vital Records

South Carolina birth and death certificates can be obtained from the State Vital Records Office of the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). Certificates can be ordered by mail or online through VitalChek or GoCertificates.

• Order South Carolina Birth and Death Certificates (GoCertificates)
• Order South Carolina Vital Records (VitalChek)
• South Carolina Dept of Public Health - Birth Certifcates
• South Carolina Dept of Public Health - Death Certifcates

South Carolina marriage certificates can be obtained from the State Vital Records Office of the South Carolina Department of Public Health (marriages from 1950-2023) or from the Probate Court in the County where the marriage licence was issued.Order South Carolina Vital Records (VitalChek)

• South Carolina Dept of Public Health - Marriage Certifcates
• Probate Courts - South Carolina

South Carolina vital records are restricted. Certified records are only available to:

• Birth Certificates: the person named in the certificate or by a parent named in the certificate. Birth certificates of deceased persons can be obtained by immediate family with presentation of a death certificate.
• Death Certificates: immediate family or those with a tangible and legitimate interest.
• Marriage Certificates: the spouses named in the certificate or by one of their adult children.

Certified copies of South Carolina Divorce Decrees can be obtained from the Clerk of the Court in the County where the divorce was decreed.
South Carlina courthouse search

Certified Divorce Reports can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (Division of Vital Records).
South Carolina Dept of Public Health - Divorce Reports

Apostilles to authenticate South Carolina Certificates of Existence (Certificates of Good Standing) can be obtained from the South Carolina Secretary of State.

A South Carolina Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Existence) can be ordered online from the Secretary of State.
Order for a Certificate of Existence

South Carolina Criminal History Certificates may be ordered from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. A notarized criminal record check must be specifically requested by mail if an Apostille is required.
Apply for a Criminal History Certificate

South Carolina Criminal History Certificates, issued by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, can be obtained from the South Carolina Secretary of State. The signature on the certificate must be notarized. Online certificates are not accepted for Apostilles.

South Carolina university diplomas and transcripts can be authenticated with Apostilles from the South Carolina Secretary of State. Diplomas and transcripts must have an original signature of a school official (principal, registrar) certified by a South Carolina Notary Public

Notarized diplomas and transcripts from the University of South Carolina can be ordered from the Registrar.
University of South Carolina - diplomas and transcripts

South Carolina 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

Documents certified by a South Carolina Notary Public can be authenticated with an Apostille from the South Carolina Secretary of State. Notarized documents must include a complete notarial certificate, including the facts attested to by the notary.

South Carolina Apostilles can be obtained for documents in languages other than English when properly notarized. However, documents in foreign languages must be accompanied by an English translation signed by the translator (the translator’s signature must be notarized).

South Carolina Driving Records may be ordered from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
Apply for a Driving Record