If you are planning to travel or work abroad, you may need to have your documents authenticated by the Utah Secretary of State. Apostille is a certification of authenticity provided by the Secretary of State, which is recognized by over 100 countries worldwide. If you are unfamiliar with the process of obtaining an apostille in Utah, then this comprehensive blog post will guide you through everything you need to know.
Firstly, it is important to understand which documents require an apostille in Utah. The types of documents include diplomas, transcripts, marriage licenses, birth certificates, power of attorney, and death certificates, among others. It is worth noting that documents not issued by the government, such as notarized documents, cannot be apostilled in Utah. It is best to check with the authority or organization requesting the document if an apostille is required.
In Utah, the process of obtaining an apostille requires the applicant to authenticate the signature(s) on the document through a notary public or the issuing agency. However, some documents require further certification by county or state-level officials. It is important to ensure that all signatures and seals are original and not photocopies. The document must also be in English or have an accompanying English translation.
Once the document has been appropriately notarized or certified, it should be submitted to the Utah Secretary of State Authentication Division for apostille processing. There are several methods of submitting the document, including in-person, via mail, or through an approved courier service. The processing time for an apostille in Utah is typically 2-3 business days, although expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
If you need to use a document issued in Utah in another country, it may need an apostille. An apostille is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State’s office that verifies the authenticity of public documents. It is an essential step in the process of legalizing documents for international use. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of obtaining a Utah apostille through the Secretary of State’s office.
Utah Secretary of State Steps
Step 1. Determine the eligibility of your document:
Firstly, you need to ensure that the document you want to apostille is eligible. The state of Utah only provides apostilles for public documents such as birth & death certificates, marriage licenses, diplomas, and transcripts issued by Utah State agencies. Documents that do not fall under public documents cannot be apostilled.
Step 2. Request the document’s original or certified copy:
Once you have identified the document’s eligibility, you should obtain its original copy or a certified copy issued by an authorized agency. The Secretary of State’s office only apostilles original or certified copies of the documents.
Step 3. Fill out the application:
The next step is to fill out the application form on the Utah Secretary of State’s website. The form requires the applicant’s name, mailing address, contact number, and other pertinent information. You also need to specify the type of document you want to apostille in Utah.
Step 4. Submit the form & pay the fee:
After completing the form, submit it to the Secretary of State’s office along with the original or certified copy of the document, and pay the processing fee of $10 per apostille by check or money order. You can also pay the fee online using a credit/debit card.
Step 5. Wait for the processing time:
Once the Secretary of State’s office receives the application and fee, it will process and issue the apostille within two business days. You can track the status of your apostille request on the Utah Secretary of State’s website.
Obtaining an apostille in Utah through the Secretary of State’s office is a straightforward process. However, you should ensure that your document meets the eligibility requirements and has the correct information before submitting your application. By following the steps mentioned above, you can obtain an apostille quickly and efficiently.
