ARKANSAS · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Arkansas
Yes — Arkansas apostilles and certifications come from a single office: the Secretary of State's Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division in Little Rock, the state's designated Competent Authority under the Hague Convention. The apostille (or certification, for non-Hague countries) authenticates the notary's or state official's signature so your document is recognized overseas; it does not translate anything. That is where Translation HelpDesk fits: our USCIS-grade certified translations run $0.05/word (most civil documents like birth, marriage, or death certificates land at $15-25), turn around in 24-48 hours, and pair cleanly with your Arkansas apostille. Founded by Victor Luján in 2018 and delivered from Chihuahua, Mexico for clients across all 50 states, we translate before or after your apostille exactly as the destination country requires.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Arkansas Secretary of State — Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division, the state's designated "Competent Authority" and the only Arkansas office that may issue apostilles and certifications. It is located in the Victory Building at 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201 (phone 501-682-3409 or 888-233-0325).
HOW IT WORKS IN ARKANSAS
Getting an Apostille in Arkansas
In Arkansas, apostilles and certifications are issued only by the Secretary of State's Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division in Little Rock — no county clerk or other office can do it. You submit the original notarized document or a state-certified vital record (Arkansas birth, marriage, or death certificates come from the Department of Health's Division of Vital Records), name the destination country, and file the Apostille/Certification request form by mail or in person, with a separate request per country. Important Arkansas rule: remotely or electronically notarized documents are NOT eligible, so the notarization must be traditional wet-ink with a proper acknowledgment or jurat. Choose an "apostille" if the destination is a Hague Convention country or a "certification" if it is not (a non-Hague country will then need further legalization at that country's embassy or consulate).
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
The order of translation depends on which way the document is traveling. For an Arkansas-issued document going abroad, apostille the original English document at the BCS Division FIRST, then have us produce the certified translation into the destination country's language — and be sure the apostille certificate itself is translated too, since many receiving countries require it. The opposite mistake is fatal in Arkansas: the SOS states that a foreign-language document "will need to be translated to English before the Office of the Secretary of State can process the request," so a Spanish-language power of attorney or affidavit notarized in Arkansas must have a certified English translation attached before BCS will apostille it.
Translation HelpDesk provides the certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) that USCIS accepts, and can advise on whether you need the apostille before or after translation for your specific document and destination.
FEES & TIMING
Cost & Turnaround
Apostille fee: The Arkansas Secretary of State's standard fee is $10 per apostille and $5 per certification, charged per document/signature, payable by mail or in person. These are the current published amounts, but confirm the fee on the BCS request form before mailing since state fees can change. Our certified translation is separate and priced at $0.05/word (typically $15-25 for a one-page civil document like a birth or marriage certificate), with a free 250-word sample so you can see the quality first.
Typical processing: The Arkansas BCS Division typically processes in-person (counter) requests the same day, while mailed requests generally take about 2 business days at the office plus round-trip postal time. Our certified translation adds 24-48 hours, and because it can be prepared in parallel you can hand the finished translation to the SOS (for a foreign-language original) or send both documents together to the destination country without adding much to the overall timeline.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Arkansas?
Only the Arkansas Secretary of State's Business & Commercial Services (BCS) Division in Little Rock, the state's designated Competent Authority. County clerks, courts, and notaries cannot issue apostilles — they can only notarize the underlying document. The office is in the Victory Building at 1401 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 250, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Should I translate my document before or after the Arkansas apostille?
It depends on direction. For an Arkansas-issued document going abroad, get the apostille on the English original first, then translate the document and the apostille certificate into the destination language. For a foreign-language document you want Arkansas to apostille, the Secretary of State requires a certified English translation to be attached before it can process the request.
How much does an Arkansas apostille cost?
The Secretary of State's published fee is $10 per apostille and $5 per certification, charged per document. Fees can change, so verify the current amount on the BCS request form before you pay. Certified translation is billed separately at $0.05/word — usually $15-25 for a single-page civil document.
How long does the Arkansas apostille process take?
In-person counter requests at the Little Rock office are usually processed the same day, while mailed requests generally take about 2 business days plus postal transit time. Our certified translation adds 24-48 hours and can be prepared in parallel, so it rarely lengthens the overall timeline.
Will a remotely notarized document work for an Arkansas apostille?
No. Arkansas does not accept remotely or electronically notarized documents for apostille or certification — the notarization must be traditional wet-ink with a valid acknowledgment or jurat. If your document was notarized online, you'll need it re-notarized in person before the BCS Division can authenticate it.
Does the apostille itself need to be translated?
Often, yes. Many receiving countries require the apostille certificate to be translated along with the underlying document. When you order a certified translation from us for a document going abroad, tell us the destination country and we'll translate both the document and the Arkansas apostille so the package is accepted.