Diploma Apostille in Minnesota
People in Minnesota who need a Diploma apostilled work directly with the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. The Minnesota Secretary of State charges $5 per document. Select your city below for localized instructions.
Minnesota Apostille Requirements
- Authority: Minnesota Secretary of State
- Office Location: St. Paul
- State Fee: $5
- Important Rule: Mail-in only.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a Diploma Apostille?
An apostille is a standardized international document authentication formalized by the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike a local notary stamp, an apostille is accepted by all 124 Hague member countries — meaning your Diploma will be accepted by foreign embassies, government offices, and employers. If you are in Minnesota, Minnesota, obtaining this certification goes through the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul.
Something many Minnesota residents overlook is that an apostille is not a translation. Most foreign authorities require a certified translation into the local language as well as the apostille. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the UAE almost always require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Ask us about comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.
The Hague Apostille Convention eliminated the old multi-step embassy legalization process that existed before 1961. Under the old system, getting an American document accepted overseas required multiple rounds of authentication at different government levels followed by embassy stamps. The Convention simplified this into one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. For Diplomas issued in Minnesota, that authority is the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul.
Minnesota: State vs Federal Authority
When timelines are tight, expedited apostille service may be available. Some state offices have expedited tracks for urgent requests. Our courier takes advantage of in-person processing by submitting in person rather than by mail, which is typically the only way to access same-day or next-day processing.
The single most important thing to know about the apostille process for your document is knowing which office issues apostilles for your specific document type. In the US, there are two completely separate authentication tracks: state and federal-level. Documents issued by Minnesota, including Diplomas go to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. Federally issued records, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.
For Minnesota-issued records, the apostille is only available from the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. Typically, the document needs to be in certified form with an authentic seal. The Minnesota Secretary of State reviews the document's seals and signatures and attaches the apostille usually within 1 to 4 weeks.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
It is also worth knowing, county clerks, municipal offices, and city government offices do not have apostille authority. Even a trip to any local Minnesota government office would not produce an apostille. The sole authority in Minnesota that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Minnesota Secretary of State.
If you are working under a tight deadline, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our courier service serves all cities in Minnesota with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.
Many residents of Minnesota initially assume they can get an apostille through any notary in MN. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. A notary public is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — only the Minnesota Secretary of State can do this.
The Minnesota Apostille Authority
Once your document arrives at the Minnesota Secretary of State, a state official verifies the seals and signatures and confirms that the issuing official's seals match the registry. If everything checks out, the apostille is attached as a cover page or attachment. The completed document is then returned by mail. Our runner collects it same-day or next-day.
The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times for mail-in submissions typically run 1 to 3 weeks depending on submission backlog. If you are in Minnesota and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service dramatically cuts the wait.
Before your document can be submitted to the Minnesota Secretary of State: some documents require prior notarization. Educational records and private documents typically require notarization as a first step. Our team identifies whether any notarization is needed before submitting to the Minnesota Secretary of State so your submission is accepted on the first attempt.
How to Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Minnesota
Getting your Diploma apostilled requires a defined process. Step one: ensure your Diploma is in its original, certified form. Step two: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Third: send it to the correct authority with the required state fee of $5. Fourth: collect the completed apostille — ready for international submission.
One of the most overlooked steps is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. Federal background checks, for example, are typically required to be dated within 6 months at the time of submission to the foreign authority. If your document is past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before submission to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.
Certain Diplomas must be notarized before they can be apostilled. When your document is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary before submission to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. Our service coordinates any required pre-notarization so you never have to navigate this alone.
How Long Does a Diploma Apostille Take in Minnesota?
Knowing where your Diploma is is one of the most valued aspects of a physical courier over postal mail. Our service includes real-time tracking at each step: initial pickup, receipt by our team, delivery to the government office, completion confirmation, and outbound FedEx tracking back to Minnesota. This end-to-end tracking is unavailable with standard postal submission.
Processing times for apostille certification vary depending on the submission method and current government backlog. Documents sent by postal mail from Minnesota to the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul typically take 4 to 8 weeks in total — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, backlogs can push timelines to 8 to 12 weeks.
For Minnesota residents in a rush, the quickest option is a courier service that physically delivers to the Minnesota Secretary of State. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul process walk-in submissions same-day. Our runner uses this option wherever available to get Minnesota clients their apostilles in 2 to 5 business days.
What to Include With Your Submission
Payment for the state fee is required. Accepted payment methods vary by state but generally include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. Our courier service includes fee payment in our all-in-one courier package so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.
An easy-to-miss detail: if your Diploma was issued in a language other than English, some Minnesota Secretary of State offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the apostille is issued without requiring a translation and translation is handled separately after the apostille. We advise you on this when you place your order.
When submitting your Diploma for apostille, confirm you are sending: the original document or a certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, the Minnesota Secretary of State's request form if applicable, payment for the state fee of $5, and a prepaid FedEx or USPS return. Missing any of these will cause rejection.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Mailing irreplaceable originals through the US Postal Service without a tracking number is something we strongly advise against. Uninsured postal shipments can be lost, delayed, or damaged. Vital records and FBI Background Checks are difficult or expensive to replace. We ship all documents via FedEx for complete end-to-end protection.
Mailing an uncertified copy instead of the original document is a frequent cause of delays at the Minnesota Secretary of State. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Submitting a scan or uncertified copy will be returned immediately. Request a new certified copy before submitting your documents.
Failing to provide a prepaid return label is a simple but common mistake. The Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul will not return your document without a prepaid return method. Without a prepaid return envelope, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. Our service includes return shipping — no separate arrangements needed.
Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Minnesota
Our courier network covers the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul, 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 Minnesota
Does my Diploma need to be notarized before apostilling in Minnesota?
Yes. Most Secretary of State offices — including the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul — 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 Minnesota Secretary of State, and return of the completed apostille.
Which state handles the apostille if I now live in Minnesota 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 Minnesota institution, the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul 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 Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul will accept. We can advise on institution-specific requirements when you place your order.
Will my apostilled Diploma from Minnesota 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 Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul 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.