Apostille in Texas
Which documents this office will accept
- How recent the document must be
Certified records must have been issued within the past five (5) years
- From the source
Documents must be issued by the State of Texas or properly notarized by a Texas notary; no county clerk intermediate certification required by SOS pages fetched
Certifications you may need first
No additional certification step is required before the apostille.
The request form
- Form
A PDF request form.
- Form number
Form 2102 (Request for a Universal Apostille)
- Where to get it
- From the source
Adoption Form 2103: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/forms/2103.pdf
Requesting online
- Online route
There is no online request route — this office takes requests on paper.
- From the source
Mail or in person only (printable form)
Where to go in person
Austin
400 West 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701- Access
Open for walk-in service.
- Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Same-day service
Available.
- Document limit
10 documents
- From the source
Walk-in Monday and Friday only (no appointment; same-day; waits may exceed an hour); appointment required Tuesday–Thursday (book at https://415407.waitwell.us/book/44; one appointment per person/company per day; max 10 documents); drop-off any weekday for 11+ documents (3-day turnaround)
What it costs
| Fee | Applies to | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 USD per document | All documents | "$15.00 per universal Apostille" |
| $10.00 USD per document | adoption proceedings | Cap: "the total fees may not exceed $100.00" per child "$10.00 per universal Apostille" for adoption proceedings |
How to pay
- By mail
Check or money order.
- In person
Cash, check, or money order.
- Make it payable to
Secretary of State of Texas
Copy that exactly as written.
- From the source
Mail: check/money order payable to "Secretary of State of Texas" or SOSDirect client account. Walk-in: exact cash, check/money order, or SOSDirect funding (SOSDirect client-account funding not in the payment-method enum; described here)
Where to send your documents
- Mailing address
- The Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, 400 West 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701
How long it takes
- By mail
Mail: up to two weeks from day of receipt
- In person
In person: same day (max 10 documents per transaction)
- From the source
Drop-off (11+ documents): within 72 hours / three-day turnaround
Checking status and verifying an apostille
- Verify an issued apostille
https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/certificationsA/index.aspx
"Verify Issuance of an Apostille"
- 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
Tex. Gov't Code §§ 406.101–406.113 (Subchapter C, Online Notary Public), added by HB 1217 (2017), effective July 1, 2018. Amended: SB 693 (2025) adds mandatory education course for initial/renewal applicants (traditional and online) effective January 1, 2026
- In force since
July 1, 2018
- What the notary must register
Yes — must hold an active traditional Texas commission, then apply electronically to the Secretary of State (1 TAC 87.4(a), 87.11); fee $21 plus ~$0.57 service charge (GC 406.105(d)); 2-hour education course, $20 fee, 70% passing score (GC 406.023(d); 1 TAC 87.14), proof valid 1 year
- How the signer is identified
(a) personal knowledge of the signer (GC 406.110(b)(1)); or (b) remote presentation of a government-issued photo ID via two-way video PLUS credential analysis (1 TAC 87.70(d)) PLUS identity proofing/KBA (1 TAC 87.70(b): min 5 questions, 5+ answer choices, 80% correct, 2-minute limit, one retry within 24 hours); credible witness allowed if personally known to notary or verified via identity proofing + credential analysis (1 TAC 87.41(d)(2))
- Fee caps
Remote act: $25.00 USD
Standard notarial act: $10.00 USD
- From the source
Max RON fee: $25 per online notarization, in addition to fees authorized under GC 406.024 (GC 406.111). Standard fees itemized per act type (GC 406.024): acknowledgment/proof $10 first signature, $1 each additional signature; oath/affirmation with certificate and seal $10; certificate under seal not otherwise provided for $10; certified copies $1 per page; protest $4; depositions $1 per 100 words plus $10 for swearing witness — maxStandardFeeCents carries the schedule's highest per-act rate ($10). Statute provides periodic inflation adjustment every five years. Online notary commission is in addition to traditional commission; SB 693 education requirement applies from Jan 1, 2026
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