United States

Apostille in Colorado

Verified as of August 9, 2026

Everything below is transcribed from this office's own published sources and printed in its words. A value we could not confirm against an official page carries an unverified marker — but the absence of that marker is not a guarantee that a fact was checked, and the source's own doubts stay inside the notes reproduced here verbatim. Confirm fees, addresses and deadlines with the office before you send documents or money.

Who issues the apostille

Competent authority: Colorado Secretary of State (Authentications), Denver

Which documents this office will accept

From the source: Original document must bear a Colorado notary public's signature, OR be certified by Colorado Vital Records, OR be certified by a Colorado County Clerk and Recorder / Clerk of the District Court; apostilles not issued for U.S. territories

By document type

Document type	What this office requires
birth/death certificates	certified by Colorado Vital Records — order from CDPHE Vital Records
marriage licenses, divorce decrees, court documents	certified by a Colorado County Clerk and Recorder / Clerk of the District Court
school transcripts	must be notarized

Certifications you may need first

No additional certification step is required before the apostille.

The request form

Form: A PDF request form.
Where to get it: https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/notary/forms/NAUTH.pdf
Languages: Published in English and Spanish.
From the source: Spanish: https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/notary/forms/NAUTH_SP.pdf

Requesting online

Online route: There is no online request route — this office takes requests on paper.
From the source: "We are unable to provide online apostilles and authentications."

Where to go in person

Denver

1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290

Access: Open for walk-in service.
Hours: Not published for this office.
Same-day service: Available.
Cut-off: hand-deliver before 4:30 PM for expedited walk-in
From the source: Phone 303-894-2200; Authentications@coloradosos.gov. Drop-off ($5/apostille; office notifies by email/phone for pickup) and walk-in expedited ($15/apostille, same-day while-you-wait attempted); only office

What it costs

Fee

$5.00 USD per document

"Authentication, apostille, and magistracy - per document: $5.00" (fee schedule); request form: "Mail In: $5 per Apostille"; "Drop Off: $5 per Apostille"

Faster service

In person

$15.00 USD per document

Turnaround: same-day while-you-wait attempted

"Expedited: $15 per Apostille (Walk in service only)"; hand-deliver before 4:30 PM — "We will try to process your documents while you wait, but if there is a heavy demand/backlog it may take longer"

How to pay

By mail

Check or money order.

In person

Cash, check, or money order.

Make it payable to

Colorado Secretary of State

Copy that exactly as written.

From the source

Form: "We only accept cash, checks or money orders. No credit or debit cards. Make checks & money orders payable to: Colorado Secretary of State"; site FAQ: "We do not accept credit card payments for authentications. You must pay with check or money order."

Where to send your documents

Mailing address: Colorado Secretary of State, 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290

How long it takes

This office publishes no turnaround commitment. What it does say:

By mail: Mail/drop-off: worked "in the order received" and returned "as soon as possible" (no weekend/holiday processing; no numeric commitment published)
Expedited: Expedited walk-in: hand-deliver before 4:30 PM — "We will try to process your documents while you wait, but if there is a heavy demand/backlog it may take longer"

Checking status and verifying an apostille

Verify an issued apostille: https://www.coloradosos.gov/auth/VerifyApostilleSearch.do
Check a request's status: No status-tracking page is published for this office.

Remote online notarization

Status

Remote online notarization is permitted here.

Legal basis

C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5, added by SB20-096 (signed June 26, 2020), effective December 31, 2020; acts performed under COVID emergency rules March 30–December 31, 2020 ratified. (Colorado's underlying RULONA effective July 1, 2018)

In force since

December 31, 2020

What the notary must register

Yes — "Before a notary public performs the notary public's initial notarization using a remote notarization system, the notary public shall notify the secretary of state" (C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5(3)); SOS approval required before performing remote acts (8 CCR 1505-11, Rule 5.2.1(a)); only active Colorado notaries may apply; remote notary application fee $10.00; remote notarization system providers must be SOS-approved (provider application/renewal $250.00); remote notary training & exam required

How the signer is identified

At least one of (C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5(6)(b); SOS FAQ): (1) notary's personal knowledge; (2) credible witness (personally knows signer; in physical presence of notary or signer); (3) remote presentation + credential analysis of a government-issued ID PLUS either a dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA) assessment by a trusted third party OR a valid public key certificate; (4) other methods compliant with SOS rules

Fee caps

Remote act: $25.00 USD

Standard notarial act: $15.00 USD