Quick Facts — North Dakota Apostille
Overview
North Dakota vital records come from the ND Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.
This guide covers how to get an apostille on a North Dakota-issued or -notarized document for use in any Hague Convention member country. If your destination country is not a Hague member, see our apostille vs. authentication guide for the chain authentication process instead.
Step-by-Step: Getting a North Dakota Apostille
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1
Obtain the Correct Document
For vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates): order a certified copy from North Dakota's vital records office — not a commemorative copy, not a photocopy. The certified copy must have the state registrar's seal and signature. For notarized documents: ensure the notary's commission is issued by North Dakota and has not expired. For court documents: obtain a clerk-certified copy from the issuing court.
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2
Do Not Notarize Vital Records
A certified vital record (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate) already carries the state registrar's signature — it does not need to be notarized before apostille. Adding a notary signature creates a conflicting authentication chain and will result in rejection. Submit the certified vital record directly to the apostille authority.
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3
Prepare Your Submission Package
Include: (1) the original certified document, (2) a cover letter with your name, return address, destination country, and document count, (3) payment of $10 per document by check or money order payable to "North Dakota Secretary of State", (4) a pre-addressed return envelope with sufficient postage or a pre-paid commercial carrier label if you want tracking.
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4
Submit and Track
Mail your package to the North Dakota Secretary of State address listed on their official website (always verify the current mailing address before sending — they occasionally change). Use USPS Certified Mail or FedEx/UPS so you have a delivery confirmation. Standard processing: 7–10 business days. The office does not typically provide status updates — track your delivery and allow the full processing window.
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Verify and Submit to Destination
When you receive your apostilled document, verify the apostille cover sheet is securely attached to the original. Do not separate them. Check that the destination country is listed correctly. If a translation is also required, send the complete apostilled document (not separated) to a certified translator. Then submit to your foreign authority according to their specific requirements.
Documents Commonly Apostilled in North Dakota
| Document | Pre-Apostille Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Certified copy from vital records — no notarization | Most common apostille request |
| Marriage Certificate | Certified copy from county clerk or vital records | Required for many spousal visa applications |
| Death Certificate | Certified copy from vital records | Common for international estate matters |
| Divorce Decree | Clerk-certified copy from issuing court | May have higher fee if classified as court document |
| Power of Attorney | Original with notary wet-ink signature and seal | Notary commission must be from North Dakota |
| Diploma / Transcript | Notarized letter from school official + original | Cannot apostille the diploma itself directly |
| FBI Background Check | N/A — federal document | Goes to U.S. Department of State, not North Dakota SOS |
Documents issued by any U.S. federal agency (FBI, Department of Homeland Security, federal courts, U.S. Department of State) must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by North Dakota. See our federal vs. state apostille guide for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state that issued or notarized the document is responsible for its apostille — not the state where you currently live. If your birth certificate was issued in Florida and you live in North Dakota, you must contact the Florida Department of State for the apostille. Your current North Dakota residency is irrelevant to apostille jurisdiction.
The North Dakota Secretary of State does not impose an expiration date on apostilles it issues. However, the destination country or specific institution may have their own recency requirements — commonly 6 months to 1 year from issuance. Check with the specific foreign authority requesting your document to confirm their requirements before ordering a new certified copy and apostille.
If North Dakota has enacted remote online notarization (RON) legislation and the notary holds a North Dakota commission, documents notarized via RON in North Dakota can be apostilled by the North Dakota Secretary of State. The apostille jurisdiction follows the notary's commission state, not the physical location of the signer at the time of notarization. Verify that the specific RON platform and notary comply with North Dakota's RON laws.
The North Dakota Secretary of State will return your documents with a rejection notice explaining the reason. Common rejection reasons include: document not issued or notarized in North Dakota, notary commission expired, document has been altered, vital record was incorrectly notarized before submission, or the document type requires additional certification steps. Correct the issue and resubmit — there is no penalty for resubmission, but you will pay the fee again.
Most state offices prefer payment by check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank, payable to the issuing authority. International money orders in U.S. dollars are generally accepted. Credit card payments are not typically available for mail submissions (some states have recently added online payment options — verify at the official website). If you are outside the U.S., consider having a trusted contact in the U.S. submit on your behalf, or use a professional document retrieval service.