Maryland Apostille FAQs

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:
The ABCs of Apostilles (PDF)

Maryland Apostilles are normally obtained in 3-5 Business Days
A one-day service is also available for urgent requests.

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.

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.

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.

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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 Division of Vital Records - Birth Certificates
• Maryland Local Health Departments
• Maryland State Archives - birth records

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 Division of Vital Records - Marriage Certificates
• Maryland County Circuit Courts
• Maryland State Archives - marriage records

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.

• Maryland Division of Vital Records - Death Certificates
• Maryland Local Health Departments
• Maryland State Archives - death records

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.

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

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.

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.