Documents intended for use in a foreign country often require authentication or legalization with an Apostille or other certificate. This process certifies the authenticity of the signature and the capacity in which the notary or other public official who signed the document has acted. The signature and seal on the document will be verified through official records on file in our office.

To obtain an authentication for notarized documents, please follow the steps below.

Step 1 Your document(s) must be notarized properly by a Colorado notary public.

• Before submitting a notarized document for an apostille or other certification, to ensure prompt service and avoid rejection, please use the following checklist. Note: We are not able to notarize your documents for you.
  • Are the signatures on the document original, not stamped or photocopied?
  • Have all blanks in the document been filled in or crossed out?
  • Is the notary's statement complete, and does it show the state and county where the notarization took place and the date of the notarization? Although the document may be in another language, the notary’s statement must be in English.
  • Does the notary's signature match the name on the notary's seal exactly?
  • Is the notary's commission expiration date clearly written or stamped on the notarization?

Step 2 Download and complete the Notary Authentication Request Form (pdf, 51k) or (word doc, 56k)

• Submit the completed form with your original notarized document(s).
• Enclose a check or money order made payable to “Colorado Secretary of State”. Payment in cash is accepted from walk-in customers. See below for the Fee Schedule.

Step 3 Mail or walk in to our office for processing.

• Documents submitted by mail are processed within 72 business hours of receipt in our office.
• Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for mailing your documents after processing. For assurance of delivery of your completed document(s), we recommend utilizing an express or overnight delivery service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL.
• Walk-in customers can drop off documents to be processed and picked up the following business day
  after 10:30 a.m. or mailed back within 72 business hours.
• In emergencies, expedited service is available for hand-delivered documents only. Processing time is dependent on the number of walk-in customers and the number of documents being processed. No appointment is necessary. Expedited service is offered from 7:30 a.m. TO 4:30 p.m. only. After 4:30 p.m., hand-delivered documents are accepted for pick-up or mail-back service only.
  
  

If you need further assistance, please contact the Licensing Division by phone, 303-894-2200, Ext. # 6409 or by e-mail, licensing@sos.state.co.us

For documents that are official copies of public records, such as certificates of birth, death, court proceedings, etc.,
please contact the Elections Division by phone, 303-894-2200, Ext. #6307 or by e-mail, elections@sos.state.co.us
Please see Elections Division information: http://www.elections.colorado.gov/WWW/default/Apostilles/auth.pdf