United States

Apostille in Maryland

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: Maryland Secretary of State, Certification Desk (Annapolis)

Which documents this office will accept

From the source: State/county-issued documents must be originals bearing seal and authorized signature

By document type

Document type

What this office requires

vital records unverified

certified copies from MDH/local registrar

unverified detail

“Unverified” marks a value we could not confirm against an official page. Facts without the marker are not therefore audited — always confirm money and addresses with the office before you send anything.

Certifications you may need first

Notarized documents

Applies to: Notarized documents — must first be certified by the Circuit Court clerk

Clerk of the Circuit Court of the county where the notary was commissioned

Complete these before the apostille request itself.

The request form

Form: A PDF request form.
Where to get it: https://sos.maryland.gov/documents/certchecklist.pdf
Languages: Published in English and Spanish.
From the source: Mailing checklist (Spanish version available); include postage-paid self-addressed return envelope

Requesting online

Online route: There is no online request route — this office takes requests on paper.

Where to go in person

Annapolis

16 Francis Street, Wineland Building, Annapolis, MD 21401

Access: Open for walk-in service.
Hours: Certification Desk open 9 am–1 pm Mon–Fri
Document limit: 15 documents
From the source: No appointment; limit 15 documents per customer per day

What it costs

Fee

$5.00 USD per document

"Certifications/Apostilles are $5.00 each" ("$5.00 per document" on checklist)

How to pay

By mail

Check or money order.

In person

Card payment, check, or money order.

Make it payable to

Secretary of State

Copy that exactly as written.

From the source

Payment must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

Mail: U.S. check or money order payable to the Secretary of State; in person: credit or debit card also accepted

Where to send your documents

Mailing address: Certification Desk, Office of the Secretary of State, 16 Francis Street, 1st Floor, Annapolis, MD 21401

How long it takes

By mail: By mail (turnaround by return method): FedEx/UPS 1-2 days; USPS Priority Mail 3-4 days maximum; regular mail 1 week maximum
In person: Walk-in served during desk hours (same-day not explicitly stated)

Getting your documents back

A self-addressed stamped envelope is required.

Include postage-paid self-addressed return envelope

Checking status and verifying an apostille

Verify an issued apostille: No public verification register is published for this office. That is not the same as an apostille being unverifiable — ask the office how it confirms one.
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

Md. Code, State Gov't §§ 18-214, 18-223 (RULONA; SB 678, 2019); "Remote (or Remote Online) Notarizations became legal in Maryland effective 10/1/2020"

In force since

October 1, 2020

What the notary must register

Yes (notification) — before performing remote acts, notify the Secretary of State and identify the communication technologies to be used (State Gov't § 18-214(k)(1)); must use and identify an SOS-authorized RON vendor and notify SOS within 10 business days of vendor changes (COMAR 01.02.08.07A(1)-(2))

How the signer is identified

Personal knowledge; credible witness appearing before and identified by the notary; or the three-fold combination of remote presentation of an ID credential + credential analysis + identity proofing (State Gov't § 18-214(a)(1)(iii)); identity proofing = dynamic KBA with minimum 5 questions and ≥80% correct (§ 18-223(c)). No standalone biometric option specified

Fee caps

Remote act: $30.00 USD

Standard notarial act: $8.00 USD