United States

Apostille in Ohio

Verified as of August 12, 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.

About this entry's sources: Every fact on this page is taken from Ohio's own Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025), read from ohiosos.gov. The form prints no payee for the check or money order — confirm that on the form itself before sending payment.

Who issues the apostille

Competent authority: Ohio Secretary of State

Which documents this office will accept unverified

From the source: Document must be signed by an Ohio elected/public official or notarized by an Ohio notary in good standing; vital records/court documents must be certified copies from the issuing official. No county-clerk pre-certification step required (unverified)

“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

No additional certification step is required before the apostille.

The request form

Form: A PDF request form.
Form number: Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025)
Where to get it: https://www.ohiosos.gov/assets/r-authentication-apostille-request-form.pdf

Requesting online

Online route: There is no online request route — this office takes requests on paper.
From the source: Printable request form only

Where to go in person

Columbus

Ohio Secretary of State
Client Service Center
180 Civic Center Dr.
Columbus, OH 43215-4138

Access: Open for walk-in service.
Hours: Not published for this office.
From the source: Address as printed on Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025); the form offers in-person delivery here for faster service. Earlier editions of this handbook carried 22 North Fourth Street, which the current form does not use

What it costs

Fee

$5.00 USD per document

Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025): "The fee is $5 per document" and "$5.00 fee per document"; "The exact fee is required" and "DO NOT SEND CASH". Consistent with ORC 111.16(K)(1): "five dollars" for affixing the SOS seal to a certificate

How to pay

By mail: Check, money order, or card payment.
Make it payable to: Not published. This office accepts a mailed check or money order but prints no payee name — confirm the payee on the official request form before you write it.
From the source: Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025), "Acceptable Payment Types": "Check or money order" or "Credit card authorization form"; "DO NOT SEND CASH"

Where to send your documents

Mailing address: Ohio Secretary of State
Client Service Center
180 Civic Center Dr.
Columbus, OH 43215-4138
From the source: "MAILING ADDRESS" as printed on Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025)

How long it takes

By mail: Form 8003 (rev. 07/2025): "Documents are processed within two to three days of receipt" (plus mail time each way)
In person: "If you require faster service, documents may be delivered in person to the Secretary of State's office" — the form states no same-day guarantee
From the source: Form 8003: "For time sensitive documents, we strongly recommend expedited service"; a prepaid overnight return label may be enclosed

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

ORC 147.60–147.66 (SB 263, effective Sept. 20, 2019); amended by SB 131 (eff. Dec. 29, 2023) and HB 315 (eff. Apr. 3, 2025)

In force since

September 20, 2019

What the notary must register

Yes — separate online-notary authorization from the Ohio Secretary of State under ORC 147.63: application + $20 fee, 2-hour approved course and exam, identify the RON technology and certify compliance with SOS standards

How the signer is identified

(1) Remote presentation of a government ID + credential analysis + identity proofing via dynamic KBA (min. 5 questions, 80% pass); or (2) notary's personal knowledge; or (3) credible witness(es) known personally to the notary or verified by credential analysis + identity proofing

Fee caps

Remote act: $30.00 USD

Standard notarial act: $5.00 USD

From the source

Max RON fee: $30 per online notarization (ORC 147.08, eff. Apr. 3, 2025) + technology fee up to $10 per online session (chargeable even if the act is not completed); cannot charge both the $5 standard and $30 online fee for the same act. Max standard fee: $5 per notarial act (ORC 147.08); travel fee permitted if agreed in advance. NNA page cites older fee provision (ORC 147.15: $5 act / $0.28-per-mile travel / $10 tech fee); current official statute ORC 147.08 (as amended by HB 315) controls — $5 standard / $30 online / $10 tech fee. Ohio recognizes out-of-state notarial acts executed under that jurisdiction's law

Other things the source says

E-register: none found

← Back to andrii.co