How Much Does an Apostille Cost in Texas? (2026 Fees & Process)
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The Texas Secretary of State charges $15 per document for a universal apostille, or $10 per document for international adoptions (capped at $100 per child). Full-service providers in Austin typically charge $75 to $250 per document, because that price covers courier work, notarisation, document review and the trip to the state office.
Last updated: 1 August 2026 · Written by Atikur Rahman, commissioned Texas Notary Public
Process changed in 2026. Apostille service at the Austin office is now appointment-only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with walk-in service on Mondays and Fridays only. Most guides still tell you to walk in any weekday. Details below.
What does the Texas Secretary of State actually charge?
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard universal apostille | $15 per document | Charged per document, not per page |
| International adoption | $10 per document | Total capped at $100 per child. Use Form 2103, not 2102. |
| Card convenience fee | 2.7% of the charge | Applies to credit and debit card payments only |
The fee is per document rather than per page. A twelve-page contract counts as one document and costs $15.
There is no separate counter or handling fee. Paying by card is the only way to add a surcharge, at 2.7%. Cash must be the exact amount, as the office does not give change.
What is a "universal apostille"?
Texas no longer issues separate apostilles and authentications. The office issues a single universal apostille that works as an apostille for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention and as an authentication for countries that are not.
This matters practically: you no longer need to work out which certificate to request. You request one thing. If your destination country is outside the Convention, you will still usually need the universal apostille validated afterwards by the US State Department's Office of Authentications.
How do I actually submit it in 2026?
Three routes, and the rules differ for each.
| Route | When available | Turnaround | Document limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booked appointment | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday only | Same day | 10 per person or company, one appointment per day |
| Walk-in | Monday and Friday only | Same day, but 15 minutes to over an hour of queueing | 10 per person or company |
| Bulk drop-box | All week | 24 to 48 hours | Use this if you have more than 10 |
| By mail | Any time | Up to 25 business days, sometimes longer | No stated limit |
Walk-in customers join a queue by scanning a QR code at the guard's desk. Appointments are booked online and confirmed by email.
The office is at 400 West 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701, open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. In-person services moved to this address, so older guides listing a different location are out of date.
Why do private services charge $75 to $250 when the state charges $15?
Because the $15 is only the state's stamp. It does not include any of the work that has to happen before and after it. A full-service price covers document review, notarisation where required, certified translation if the destination country needs it, physical delivery to and from the state office, and responsibility if something is rejected.
The 2026 appointment rules make this more valuable than it used to be. A single walk-in attempt now costs you a Monday or Friday morning and possibly an hour in a queue, and if the document is rejected you repeat the whole trip.
Rejection is the cost most people do not price in. A document sent back for an incorrect notarial certificate or a missing county clerk certification costs you the trip, the wait, and sometimes a re-issued original from the source agency.
What should I expect to pay in Austin?
| Route | Typical cost per document | Typical turnaround | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Secretary of State, appointment or walk-in | $15 | Same day, on permitted days only | You |
| Texas Secretary of State, bulk drop-box | $15 | 24 to 48 hours | You |
| Texas Secretary of State, by mail | $15 | Up to 25 business days | You |
| Budget apostille services | From $75 | 3 to 5 business days | Provider |
| ARF Standard | $90 | 1 to 2 business days for Texas documents | Provider |
| Premium / national providers | $125 to $250 first document | 1 to 5 business days | Provider |
Rush handling is commonly an extra $75 across the market. Federal documents, which route through the US Department of State rather than Austin, cost more and take considerably longer.
How long does a Texas apostille take?
Same day if you attend in person on a permitted day. 24 to 48 hours through the bulk drop-box. Up to 25 business days by mail, and the office notes this can be exceeded at busy periods — so mail is not a realistic option if you have a deadline. Through a full-service provider, one to five business days is standard for Texas-issued documents, with our own turnaround at one to two business days.
What do I need to bring?
- The original certified copy or notarised document. Recordable documents must have been issued within the past five years.
- A completed Form 2102, or Form 2103 if the request is for an international adoption.
- The destination country named on the form. This is required, not optional.
- Payment. In person: check, credit or debit card, or exact cash. By mail: check, money order, or a funded SOS client account.
The five-year rule catches people out. An old birth certificate copy sitting in a drawer will usually be refused, and you will need to order a fresh certified copy first.
Do I need a notary before I get an apostille?
It depends entirely on the document. Vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates must be certified copies issued by the state or county, and they must not be notarised. Doing so can invalidate them. Private documents such as powers of attorney, affidavits, corporate resolutions and parental consent letters do need to be notarised first, and the notarial wording has to be correct for Texas.
This distinction is the single most common reason a document comes back rejected. If you are unsure which category yours falls into, ask before you pay for anything.
What can push the total cost up?
- Multiple documents. Most providers reduce the per-document rate after the first.
- Translation. If a document needs translating, a notary must witness the translator signing it, and both documents are submitted together.
- County clerk certification. Some older or county-issued records need an intermediate certification step.
- Federal routing. FBI background checks and other federal documents go through Washington, not Austin.
- Re-issued originals. If your certified copy is more than five years old, you will need a new one.
- Rush service. Typically $75 on top across most providers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in Texas?
$15 per document from the Texas Secretary of State, or $10 per document for international adoptions with a $100 cap per child. Private full-service providers charge $75 to $250 per document.
Is the Texas apostille fee charged per page or per document?
Per document. A single multi-page document requires one $15 apostille, not one per page.
Can I walk in to the Texas Secretary of State for an apostille?
Only on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are appointment-only, booked online. Both routes are limited to ten documents per person or company.
How long does a Texas apostille take by mail?
Up to 25 business days from the day the office receives it, and longer at busy periods. If you have a deadline, use the bulk drop-box, an appointment, or a service provider.
What is a universal apostille?
A single certificate Texas now issues that works as an apostille for Hague Convention countries and as an authentication for countries outside it. You no longer choose between the two.
How old can my document be?
Recordable documents must have been issued within the past five years. An older certified copy will usually be refused, so order a fresh one before submitting.
Is an apostille the same as a notarisation?
No. A notary verifies the identity of a signer. An apostille is a certificate issued by the Secretary of State confirming that a public official's signature or seal on a document is genuine, so the document is recognised abroad.
How long is a Texas apostille valid?
An apostille does not expire. However, many receiving authorities will not accept one issued more than three to six months earlier, so check the requirement of the country requesting it.
Can I get an apostille for a document from another state?
Not through Texas. An apostille must be issued by the state that issued the underlying document, or by the US Department of State for federal documents.
Getting help with it
We handle the full process for Texas documents, start to finish, at $90 per document with a one to two business day turnaround. See our apostille service, or Texas notary services if your document needs notarising first. We serve Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Kyle, Buda, Bastrop, Lakeway, Bee Cave and the surrounding Central Texas counties.
Related reading: how much a notary costs in Texas and jurat vs acknowledgement.
Sources
- Texas Secretary of State — How to Request a Universal Apostille (fees, appointment rules, turnaround, document limits)
- Texas Secretary of State — Authentication of Documents FAQs
- HCCH — Apostille Convention status table
- US Department of State — Office of Authentications
This article is general information about fees and process, not legal advice. State fees, appointment rules and processing times change; confirm current figures with the Texas Secretary of State before relying on them.