In Arizona an apostille is a job for the Secretary of State. Your LLC or corporation is filed with the Corporation Commission, but the office that certifies a signature for use abroad is different. The Arizona office guide shows how the two offices are split. For the general idea, see our apostille guide.
The fee is $3 per document, and you submit an original. What you send decides most of the process, so start with the document itself.
When you need an Arizona apostille
You need one when a document from Arizona will be used in another country. The state describes it as a certification of an Arizona notary public, a court clerk or a state document custodian. The certificate is valid under the Hague Convention as a uniform way of checking documents that travel between countries.
Depending on the country asking, the paper may be called an apostille or a certificate of authentication. The office handles both in the same way, so you file one request form either way.
| Who issues it | Arizona Secretary of State, Apostille Dept., Phoenix (azsos.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee per document | $3 per document (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| How to submit | By mail, or in person in Phoenix or Tucson; no electronic apostilles (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Turnaround | 10 to 20 business days by mail; walk-in expedite $25.00, up to 6 documents (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Documents it covers | Arizona notaries, court clerks and state document custodians (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Hague and non-Hague countries | Called an Apostille or a Certificate of Authentication, depending on the country (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Request page | azsos.gov/business/authentication (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Where to send it | Attn: Apostille Dept., 1700 W. Washington Street, Fl. 7, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2808 (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | Documents recorded by another state must be certified by that state, not Arizona (azsos.gov, checked ) |
What to prepare first
Business papers usually need a step before the apostille. If you want an apostille on a company document, order a certified copy or a Certificate of Good Standing from the Corporation Commission first. See our guide on the Arizona good standing certificate. Then take that certified paper to the apostille office.
For a private paper such as a power of attorney, you need an Arizona notary to complete the notarization. The Secretary of State then checks the notary.
- The original notarized or certified recorded document. A copy is not accepted.
- The Apostille or Certificate of Authentication request form.
- The fee, $3 per document.
- Return postage for mailed requests.
How to submit it
By mail, send everything to the Secretary of State, Attn: Apostille Dept., 1700 W. Washington Street, Fl. 7, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2808. The office asks for return postage and suggests a service with tracking. Return labels from FedEx, UPS or DHL must show your mailing address as both sender and recipient.
In person, go to the Phoenix or Tucson office. Walk-in service has an expedite fee of $25.00 and takes up to 6 documents at once.
How long it takes
Mailed requests take 10 to 20 business days according to the office. That counts from receipt, so add mailing time in both directions. If you have a deadline, the walk-in route is the faster option.
Special cases
Requests going to Puerto Rico or any U.S. territory need a notarial capacity certificate, and the requester pays an $18 fee. Documents recorded by another state are not accepted. The state that made the record must certify it.
Some countries want a further step after the apostille, so ask the receiving party before you send anything.
Our private filing service can handle the paperwork for you. State fees are separate, and you can submit the request to the Secretary of State yourself.
Sources
- www.azcc.gov/corporations/home: office name, division, officeholder, mailing address, street address, phone, contact page, business search, name check, certificate ordering. Checked .
- azcc.gov/corporations/notices: hours, search disclaimer. Checked .
- www.azleg.gov/ars/29/03112.htm: LLC name endings, restricted words. Checked .
- www.azleg.gov/ars/10/00401.htm: corporation name endings, name rule. Checked .
- azcc.gov/docs/default-source/corps-files/fee-schedules/fee-schedule-llcs.pdf: name reservation fee, LLC filing fee, foreign LLC fee, expedite fees, good standing certificate, certificate fee. Checked .
- azcc.gov/faqs/BusinessServicesFAQs: name reservation term, name reservation form, report fee, report due date, late penalty, processing time, registered agent rule, status terms. Checked .
- azcc.gov/docs/default-source/corps-files/fee-schedules/fee-schedule-corporations6def4cc74b1a47129d16c2b1c3851bda.pdf?sfvrsn=2d6fbddb_4: corporation filing fee, nonprofit filing fee. Checked .
- www.azcc.gov/news/home/2025/12/17/coming-soon---arizona-business-connect-to-launch-on-january-12--2026: online filing. Checked .
- azsos.gov/business/authentication: who issues it, fee per document, how to submit, turnaround, documents it covers, hague and non-hague countries, request page, where to send it, worth knowing. Checked .