Maryland Apostille – Apostille

Maryland Apostille Services – Fast & Reliable Document Authentication

A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services provides professional Maryland Apostille services for documents issued in the State of Maryland. Whether you need to authenticate a birth certificates, marriage certificates, diploma, power of attorney, or FBI background check, we manage the entire process accurately and efficiently.

We provide state and federal apostilles, ensuring your documents are accepted for use in any country that is a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

Call: 1-877-721-7678
Email: info@visadc.com
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Download the Authentication Request Form

Maryland Apostille Cost

The following fees apply per document:

• VisaDC apostille service fee: $115
• Maryland Secretary of State fee: $5
• Notary fee, if required: $5
• Total without notarization: $120 per document
• Total with VisaDC notarization: $125 per document

Additional Circuit Court certification fees may apply to documents notarized in Maryland.

Return shipping is not included:

• FedEx 2-Day shipping within the United States: $18
• FedEx international shipping: $60
• Overnight delivery: Available upon request

Processing times are estimates and may be affected by state holidays, government closures, document condition or additional certification requirements.

What Is a Maryland Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate that verifies the signature and authority of the public official who signed or certified a document.

The Maryland Secretary of State issues apostilles for eligible Maryland documents that will be used in countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apostille does not verify the contents of the document. It authenticates the official signature and seal so the document can be presented abroad.

Documents We Can Process

Maryland Vital Records

We can assist with apostilles for:

• Maryland birth certificates
• Maryland marriage certificates
• Maryland death certificates
• Maryland divorce decrees
• Certified court records
• Name-change orders

Vital records must generally be original certified copies bearing an authorized signature and official seal. Hospital birth records, souvenir certificates and ordinary photocopies are not eligible.

Educational Documents

We process:

• High school diplomas
• College and university degrees
• Transcripts
• Enrollment letters
• Teaching credentials
• School attendance records

Educational documents normally require proper notarization and Circuit Court clerk certification before submission to the Maryland Secretary of State.

Notarized Personal Documents

Eligible documents may include:

• Power of attorney
• Single-status affidavit
• Travel consent letter
• Passport copy
• Driver’s license copy
• Affidavit
• Authorization letter
• Medical consent document

The notarization must meet Maryland requirements. Additional county-level certification may be necessary.

Maryland Business Documents

We can assist with:

• Articles of incorporation
• Certificates of good standing
• Corporate resolutions
• Commercial agreements
• Certificates of origin
• Powers of attorney
• Business affidavits
• Other certified corporate records

Contact us before mailing a business document so we can confirm the correct certification process.

Requirements for Maryland Notarized Documents

A document notarized by a Maryland notary generally must be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary is commissioned.

The normal process is:

1. The document is properly notarized by a Maryland notary.
2. The appropriate Maryland Circuit Court clerk certifies the notary’s commission.
3. The document is submitted to the Maryland Secretary of State.
4. The Maryland Secretary of State issues an apostille or authentication certificate.

Documents issued directly by a Maryland state or county agency—such as properly certified birth, marriage and death certificates—normally do not require notarization.

VisaDC will review your document and advise whether Circuit Court certification is required.

Maryland Birth Certificate Apostille

To apostille a Maryland birth certificate, you must provide an original certified copy issued by the Maryland Division of Vital Records or another authorized Maryland issuing office.

The certificate should contain:

• The official seal or security features
• The authorized registrar’s signature
• The complete certified record

The following are generally not acceptable:

• Hospital or souvenir birth certificates
• Plain photocopies
• Uncertified informational copies
• Damaged or altered certificates
• Birth certificates issued by another state

A Maryland birth certificate does not normally need to be notarized before it is submitted for an apostille.

Maryland Marriage Certificate Apostille

A Maryland marriage certificate must be an original certified copy issued by the appropriate Maryland court or government records office.

A decorative marriage certificate signed only by the officiant may not be acceptable. If you are unsure which version you have, email a scan to info@visadc.com for review before mailing the original.

Maryland Diploma and Transcript Apostille

Diplomas, degrees and transcripts are not usually issued as Maryland public records. They generally require:

• Proper notarization
• Certification by the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the notary is commissioned
• Submission to the Maryland Secretary of State

The school may need to provide a registrar’s statement confirming that the educational record is genuine. Contact us before obtaining the notarization so we can help you avoid an incorrect certification.

How Our Maryland Apostille Service Works

Step 1: Send Us a Copy for Review

Email a clear scan or photograph of the document to info@visadc.com. Tell us the country where the document will be used.

The destination country determines whether the document needs an apostille or a different authentication process.

Step 2: Complete the Request Form

Complete the VisaDC Authentication Request Form and include your contact information, destination country and return-shipping instructions.

Download the Authentication Request Form

Step 3: Mail or Deliver the Original Document

Mail or deliver the required original or certified document to:

A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services Inc.
1875 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 210
Reston, VA 20191

Our Reston office accepts walk-ins Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Our Washington, DC office is available by appointment only.

Step 4: We Process the Apostille

We review the document, arrange any selected services and submit the eligible document for Maryland apostille processing.

Step 5: We Return the Completed Document

Once completed, the apostilled document can be returned by FedEx within the United States or shipped internationally.

Apostille or Authentication and Embassy Legalization?

The destination country determines the required process.

Hague Convention Countries

If the destination country participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, the Maryland Secretary of State issues an apostille. The document generally does not need authentication by the U.S. Department of State or legalization by an embassy.

Non-Hague Countries

If the destination country does not participate in the Hague Apostille Convention, the document may require:

1. Maryland Secretary of State certification
2. U.S. Department of State authentication
3. Embassy or consulate legalization

VisaDC can coordinate the entire authentication and embassy legalization process when required.

Tell us the destination country before sending your documents so we can confirm the correct procedure.

Federal Documents and FBI Background Checks

Federal documents do not receive apostilles from the Maryland Secretary of State.

Documents such as the following are processed through the U.S. Department of State:

• FBI Identity History Summary
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• IRS Form 6166
• Federal court documents
• Certain USCIS documents
• Federal agency certificates
• Military and federal pension records
• Federal Apostille Courier

VisaDC provides separate federal apostille and authentication services through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.

Learn About FBI Background Check Apostilles

Common Reasons Maryland Documents Are Rejected

A document may be rejected if:

• It is a photocopy instead of an original certified copy.
• The public official’s signature cannot be authenticated.
• The document has been altered or damaged.
• A notarized document is missing Circuit Court clerk certification.
• The notarial certificate is incomplete.
• The wrong state is asked to issue the apostille.
• The destination country is not identified.
• The document was issued by a federal agency.
• A hospital birth certificate is submitted instead of a certified vital record.
• The document requires an additional certification before submission.

We recommend emailing a copy to info@visadc.com for review before sending an important original.

Why Choose VisaDC?

A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services Inc. has more than 10 years of experience assisting customers with apostilles, federal authentications, embassy legalizations and international document requirements.

Our services include:

• Document review before submission
• Maryland apostille processing
• Federal apostille and authentication services
• Embassy and consulate legalization
• Domestic and international return delivery
• Assistance for customers located outside the United States
• Email notification when processing is complete

We are a private document-processing company and are not affiliated with the Maryland Secretary of State or any other government agency.

Start Your Maryland Apostille Request

To begin, email a copy of your document and the name of the destination country to info@visadc.com.

You may also call 1-877-721-7678 for assistance.

Mail documents to:

A Washington Travel & Passport Visa Services Inc.
1875 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 210
Reston, VA 20191

Office hours:
Monday–Friday
9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Download the Authentication Request Form

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Maryland apostille cost?

The VisaDC service fee is $108 per document, and the Maryland Secretary of State fee is $5 per document. The total is $113 per document before notarization, Circuit Court fees and return shipping.

How long does a Maryland apostille take?

Processing times depend on the document, required certifications, state workload, holidays and delivery method. Contact VisaDC for the current estimated turnaround time.

Does a Maryland birth certificate need to be notarized?

No. An original certified Maryland birth certificate normally goes directly to the Maryland Secretary of State for an apostille. Hospital certificates and ordinary photocopies are not acceptable.

Does a Maryland marriage certificate need to be notarized?

An original certified marriage record issued by the appropriate Maryland court or government office normally does not need notarization. Decorative or unofficial marriage certificates may not qualify.

Do Maryland diplomas and transcripts need to be notarized?

Educational documents generally require proper notarization and certification by the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the Maryland notary is commissioned.

Can VisaDC process an FBI background check?

Yes. FBI background checks are federal documents and must be processed through the U.S. Department of State—not the Maryland Secretary of State. VisaDC handles federal apostille and authentication requests.

Can you process documents for non-Hague countries?

Yes. Documents intended for non-Hague countries may require Maryland certification, U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization. VisaDC can coordinate the complete process.

Can I obtain a Maryland apostille while living overseas?

Yes. International customers may mail their original documents to our Reston office. Completed documents can be returned internationally by FedEx.

Can you send the completed document to another person?

Yes. We can send the completed document to a third party, attorney, employer, school or family member if you provide complete delivery instructions.

Can I email a scan instead of mailing the original?

You may email a scan for initial review. Most Maryland apostille requests require the original document, an original certified copy or a properly notarized original for processing.

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