Diploma Apostille in Massachusetts
People in Massachusetts who need their Diploma apostilled work directly with the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston. The Secretary of the Commonwealth charges $6 per document. Choose your city to find courier options.
Massachusetts Apostille Requirements
- Authority: Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Office Location: Boston
- State Fee: $6
- Important Rule: Justice of the Peace signatures require verification.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a Diploma Apostille?
The Hague Apostille Convention replaced a previously complex chain of certifications that was required before the Convention. Before apostilles, getting an American document accepted overseas required multiple rounds of authentication at different government levels followed by embassy stamps. The apostille replaced this with one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. For Diplomas issued in Massachusetts, that authority is the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston.
Diplomas are one of the most common apostille categories nationally. This is because Diplomas come up in many international processes including immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. For residents of Massachusetts, the apostille for a Diploma must come from the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
An apostille is a form of international document authentication created under the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike a notarization, an apostille is recognized internationally — meaning your Diploma will be accepted by foreign embassies, government offices, and employers. For residents of Massachusetts, obtaining this certification goes through the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston.
Massachusetts: State vs Federal Authority
For state-issued Diplomas, the apostille must come from the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office. Typically, the document needs to be in certified form with an authentic seal. The Secretary of the Commonwealth verifies the document's origin and seal and attaches the apostille within 1 to 4 weeks depending on current volume.
One of the most costly apostille mistakes is submitting documents to the incorrect government authority. For example, if you mail a Diploma issued in Massachusetts to the US Department of State in DC, the federal office will refuse to process it. Similarly, mailing a federal document to the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston will also come back unprocessed. In both cases, the wasted transit time adds 2 to 4 weeks to your timeline.
If you have a deadline, same-day processing may be available. The Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston provide same-day service for in-person deliveries. Our courier takes advantage of in-person processing by walking documents in, getting you the fastest possible turnaround from Massachusetts.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
People across Massachusetts initially assume they can handle this through any notary in MA. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. A local notary is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — only designated government offices hold this power.
Another reason local options fail is that Hague member countries check whether the apostille was issued by the proper office. If the apostille comes from an unauthorized office, the foreign embassy or government office will reject it. This may delay your entire application even if everything else in your application is correct.
It is also worth knowing, local government offices in Massachusetts in MA also cannot issue apostilles. Even visiting any local Massachusetts government office would not produce a Hague certificate. The sole authority in Massachusetts authorized to issue apostilles for state documents is the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston.
The Massachusetts Apostille Authority
There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: some documents require prior notarization. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits often must be notarized before the Secretary of the Commonwealth will apostille them. We advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before submitting to the Secretary of the Commonwealth so your submission is accepted on the first attempt.
For Diplomas issued in Massachusetts, the designated apostille authority is the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston. This is the only office in Massachusetts authorized to attach Hague Apostille certificates on records from Massachusetts government agencies. The Secretary of the Commonwealth holds the official seals of Massachusetts government officials and is therefore the only authorized source for apostilles on Massachusetts-issued records.
Once your document arrives at the Secretary of the Commonwealth, a state official verifies the seals and signatures and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. Once verified, the apostille is affixed as a cover page or attachment. The apostilled document is then mailed back to you. Our runner picks it up within 24 hours.
How to Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Massachusetts
Some document types require notarization before they can be apostilled. If your Diploma is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, a notarization is usually required by a licensed notary prior to the Secretary of the Commonwealth will accept it. We manages the full notarization and apostille process so you never have to navigate this alone.
After we receive your Diploma, we inspect each document for any issues that could cause rejection. This intake review identifies issues like missing seals, uncertified copies, outdated notarizations, or incorrect fees. Finding problems upfront avoids the need to resubmit — a first-attempt rejection.
Getting a Diploma apostilled involves a defined process. First: ensure your Diploma is in its original, certified form. Step two: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Step three: submit it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston along with the applicable state fee. Step four: collect the completed apostille — ready for any Hague member country.
How Long Does a Diploma Apostille Take in Massachusetts?
For Massachusetts residents in a rush, the fastest path is a courier service that physically delivers to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston can complete apostilles same-day for in-person deliveries. Our courier capitalizes on this to get Massachusetts clients their apostilles in 2 to 5 business days.
The US Department of State operates on a separate schedule for federal documents. Regular postal submissions to DC for federal apostilles often takes 8 to 12 weeks because of the volume of requests from all 50 states. A physical courier in Washington D.C. gets the federal authentication done in 2 to 5 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.
Knowing where your Diploma is is one of the most valued aspects of using our courier service. We provide real-time tracking at each step: pickup from your Massachusetts address, arrival at our processing hub, submission to the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston, completion confirmation, and dispatch of the return shipment to Massachusetts. This end-to-end tracking is not possible with direct mail.
What to Include With Your Submission
When submitting your Diploma for apostille, make sure you include: the original document or a certified copy, any required notarization, the Secretary of the Commonwealth's request form if applicable, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Leaving out any item will result in your documents being returned unprocessed.
Some Massachusetts residents ask whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For mail-in submissions, a brief cover letter is recommended stating your name, document type, document count, and return address. The Secretary of the Commonwealth handles many submissions daily and a clear cover letter helps the office handle your request correctly and quickly.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth's fee of $6 is required. Forms of payment differ at each Secretary of the Commonwealth but typically include money order, certified check, or online payment. Our courier service pays the Secretary of the Commonwealth fee as part of the service so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting to include return shipping is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston does not automatically return documents. Without a prepaid return envelope, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. We handle return shipping as part of our flat-rate fee — you never have to worry about return logistics.
The single most expensive apostille error is routing your Diploma to the incorrect office. Massachusetts residents sometimes send state documents like Diplomas to the US Department of State in DC. In both cases, the office will reject the submission and return the document unprocessed. This mistake costs weeks — the round-trip postal time to the wrong office — before you can resubmit correctly.
Sending original documents through standard postal mail without insurance is something we strongly advise against. Uninsured postal shipments are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are difficult or expensive to replace. We use FedEx with full insurance and tracking for complete end-to-end protection.
Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Massachusetts
Our courier network covers the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston, typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.
Order NowFrequently Asked Questions — Diploma Apostille in Massachusetts
Does my Diploma need to be notarized before apostilling in Massachusetts?
Yes. Most Secretary of State offices — including the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston — require that Diplomas be notarized or officially certified by the issuing institution before an apostille can be attached. We coordinate the full process: notarization, submission to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and return of the completed apostille.
Which state handles the apostille if I now live in Massachusetts but attended school elsewhere?
The apostille must come from the state where the issuing institution is located — not the state where you currently live. If your Diploma was issued by a Massachusetts institution, the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston is the correct office. If you attended school in another state, that state's Secretary of State handles the apostille.
How do I get a certified copy of my Diploma suitable for apostilling?
Contact the institution that issued your Diploma — typically the registrar, alumni office, or records department — and request an officially certified copy bearing an original seal or signature. This certified copy, not a photocopy, is what the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston will accept. We can advise on institution-specific requirements when you place your order.
Will my apostilled Diploma from Massachusetts be accepted in countries that require specific formats?
Countries like Germany and the UAE have specific requirements for educational documents beyond the apostille — including certified translations and sometimes additional attestation. The apostille from the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston satisfies the Hague authentication requirement, but you may also need a sworn translation and, in some cases, attestation by the destination country's embassy. We offer full packages that cover apostille plus translation.