General Apostille Information
GSCCCA Document Authentication
Georgia has two separate and distinct state agencies authorized to authenticate documents. Choosing the correct agency to whom to send the documents is based upon where your documents will be used. The following series of questions will guide you.
Will the document be used in a foreign country, foreign embassy or foreign consulate?
| Yes - | Will the document be used in a country, including an embassy or consulate, which is a participant to The Hague Treaty Convention 12 (commonly known as the Apostille Convention)? Click HERE to see the list of participating countries.
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| No - | Authentication Type: Certification of Notary Public Submit your notarized document to the notary’s commissioning county Clerk of Superior Court or to the GSCCCA following the instructions listed below. Certification of notary public, also called a certificate of authority, certifies that the notary public holds, or held, a notary commission during a particular term of office. The GSCCCA only issues this certification for documents that will be used within the U.S., a U.S. territory or U.S. embassy (typically visa requests). Notes: (1) Documents going to foreign embassies or consulates located within the U.S. are considered to be international documents going to that foreign country. (2) A certification of notary is not used in conjunction with an apostille. (3) The Georgia Secretary of State will only accept notary certifications from the notary’s commissioning county. | ||||||
Apostille Information
Documents the GSCCCA can apostille:
Georgia Issued Vital Records, Court Documents and Corporations Division Documents: Publicly recorded documents must be official certified copies with the signature and seal of the issuing Georgia state or county official. These documents are never notarized.
Birth certificates.
Death certificate.
Marriage certificates.
Divorce decrees. Note: Some counties participate in the eCertification program which allows users to request a digital version of certified copies of divorce decrees. Apostilles can be issued on the printed digital versions. To see if your county Clerk of Superior Court participates in the eCertification program, click HERE.
Court documents.
Documents filed with a Georgia County Clerk of Superior Court.
Corporate documents on file with the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division. Note: These must be certified copies issued by the current Secretary of State. These can be certified copies issued directly from their office or they can be certified copies downloaded from their website.
Georgia Notarized Documents (examples: powers of attorney, affidavits, corporate documents, translations, diplomas or school transcripts, etc.) These documents must be properly notarized in accordance with Georgia laws before this office can authenticate them for use internationally. Note: Any document requiring notarization must be notarized prior to submission to the GSCCCA.
When documenting a notarial act, the notary public completes a notarial certificate (i.e. notary language block that identifies the type of notarial act performed) and signs by hand in ink, exactly the name indicated on the notary’s commission. Sample notarial certificates can be found in the Notary Files & Forms – Notarial Certificates section.
The notary must include the exact date of notarization on the notarial certificate.
The notary’s signature must match the name as it appears on the notary commission and must match the signature as it appears on the commission.
The notary seal/stamp must match the name as it appears on the notary commission.
The seal must contain the notary’s name, the name of the county in which the notary is commissioned, the words “Notary Public,” and the name of the state.
The document must have a clear impression of the notary seal/stamp.
Documents the GSCCCA cannot apostille:
Out-of-state documents. (Contact that particular state for authentication.)
Federal documents that have been signed and sealed by a federal agency or federal court. This includes consular report of birth abroad. (Contact the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office.)
Photocopied documents (unless a Georgia notary has properly certified it as a copy).
Documents issued by a foreign country. (Contact that country.)
Documents going to countries that are not parties to the Apostille Convention.
Documents that will be used within the United States of America, its territories or possessions. Notes: Documents going to foreign embassies or consulates located within the U.S. are considered to be international documents going to that foreign country.
Submitting Documents to the GSCCCA –
Fees, Office Hours and Mailing Instructions
Documents must be originals and may be brought to our office or mailed to our office.
Fees:
Apostille Fees: $ 3.00 per document
Certification of Notary Public Fees: $2.00 per document (Note: this certification is not used in conjunction with an apostille)
Walk-In Service:
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (no appointment is necessary).
Address:
1875 Century Blvd., Ste. 100
Atlanta, GA 30345Payment Options
Cash
Personal/company check payable to GSCCCA. Checks must have a pre-printed name and address on check.
Money order payable to GSCCCA.
Credit Card (see credit card policy)
New: Credit Card Pre-Payment Voucher System for third-party hand delivery
Pay with a credit card for walk-in authentication services, eliminating the need to write company or personal checks, or provide couriers with cash. Click HERE to begin.
The GSCCCA reserves the right to limit the number of documents presented to our office on a while-you-wait service.
Mail-In Service (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.):
Payment Options
Personal/company check payable to GSCCCA. Checks must have a pre-printed name and address on check.
Money order payable to GSCCCA.
New: Credit Card Pre-Payment Voucher System
Pay with a credit card for mail-in authentication services, eliminating the need to write company or personal checks, or provide couriers with cash. Click HERE to begin.
Include a cover/request letter or instructional note specifying the destination country and providing contact information (see Apostille Request Letter example in Notary Files & Forms – Miscellaneous Forms section).
Include a pre-paid, self-addressed envelope or airbill for return. Note: FedEx or UPS return airbills must be computer generated; the GSCCCA will not accept handwritten airbills.
Processing time is normally one to two business days.
Mailing Address:
GSCCCA
Attn: Notary Division
1875 Century Blvd., Ste. 100
Atlanta, GA 30345
GSCCCA Contact Information
notary@gsccca.org
404-327-6023
800-304-5175