Georgia Apostille: Do You Need GSCCCA or the Secretary of State?

Why Georgia Is Different From Every Other State

In all 49 other states and the District of Columbia, the Secretary of State (or equivalent) is the single office that issues apostilles for Hague Convention countries. Georgia is the only U.S. state where this function is handled by a separate agency: the Clerks' Authority of Georgia (GSCCCA) — the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

This split creates genuine confusion. If you search "Georgia apostille" and land on the Georgia Secretary of State's website, you'll find authentication services for non-Hague countries — but no apostille service. Many people go through the SOS process, pay $10, and then discover their document isn't accepted because their destination country requires an apostille (not a chain authentication), and they need to restart with GSCCCA.

Here is the decision in plain terms:

Check whether your destination country is a Hague member using our free apostille checklist tool, which includes a country lookup.

Option A: GSCCCA — For Hague Convention Countries

What GSCCCA Does

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) was designated by Georgia law as the apostille-issuing authority for state documents destined for Hague member countries. This includes all Georgia vital records (birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses), notarized documents, court records, and most state-issued documents.

GSCCCA Walk-In Service

GSCCCA operates a walk-in counter at its Atlanta office and offers same-day processing — one of the fastest apostille services in the country. Current details as of 2025:

• Address: 1875 Century Blvd NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Fee: $3 per document (cash, check, or card)
• Processing: Same day while you wait — typically 30–60 minutes
• No appointment required

GSCCCA Mail Service

Mail requests to GSCCCA are processed in approximately 3–5 business days. Include the original document, a cover letter with your return address and destination country, and a check for $3 per document payable to "GSCCCA." Include a pre-addressed return envelope.

• Mailing address: GSCCCA, P.O. Box 921868, Norcross, GA 30010

Documents GSCCCA Will Apostille

• Georgia birth certificates (certified copies from Georgia DPH)
• Georgia death certificates
• Georgia marriage licenses and certificates
• Divorce decrees and court orders issued by Georgia Superior Courts
• Documents notarized by a Georgia-commissioned notary public
• Georgia criminal background checks (from Georgia Bureau of Investigation)
• Georgia business documents (Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing)
• Diplomas and transcripts accompanied by a notarized letter from a school official

Option B: Georgia Secretary of State — For Non-Hague Countries

When You Need the Georgia SOS

If your document needs to be authenticated for a country that is not a member of the Hague Convention — for example, certain Gulf states, some African nations, or countries that signed the Hague Convention but have not yet entered into the treaty relationship with the U.S. — you need the Georgia Secretary of State's authentication service rather than a GSCCCA apostille.

The Georgia SOS authentication is not an apostille. It is a certification of the notary's or official's authority, which then typically requires additional steps: submission to the U.S. Department of State and then to the destination country's embassy in Washington, D.C. This is known as chain authentication.

Georgia SOS Authentication Details

• Fee: $10 per document
• Processing: Mail only, 5–10 business days
• Address: Georgia Secretary of State, Authentications Division, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 313 Floyd West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334

The Most Common Georgia Apostille Mistakes

Mistake 1: Going to the SOS for a Hague-country document

This is the most common error. If you're sending a document to France, Germany, Mexico, India, or any of the 120+ Hague member countries and you go to the Georgia SOS instead of GSCCCA, the SOS will issue an authentication certificate — not an apostille. The receiving country will reject it. You'll need to restart at GSCCCA. The $10 SOS fee is not refundable.

Mistake 2: Sending the wrong type of birth certificate copy

GSCCCA requires a certified copy of your Georgia birth certificate issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). A commemorative or decorative copy will be rejected. Order your certified copy at dph.georgia.gov or through VitalChek. Current DPH fee: $25 for the first copy.

Mistake 3: Apostilling a birth certificate that's been notarized

Just like with Texas, you should not notarize a certified vital record before submitting it for apostille. The document already carries the government registrar's signature, which is what GSCCCA authenticates. Adding a notary layer creates a conflicting chain and will cause rejection.

Mistake 4: Assuming GSCCCA and GBI background checks work the same way

Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) criminal background checks require the GBI's own certification before GSCCCA can apostille them. The GBI must certify the document (not just print it) — a standard GBI background check printout is not the same as a certified GBI record. Contact the GBI directly for certified background check procedures before requesting an apostille from GSCCCA.

Is Your Country Hague or Non-Hague? Common Destinations

Frequently Asked Questions