COLORADO · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Colorado
Getting a document apostilled for use abroad from Colorado runs through one office only: the Colorado Secretary of State's Apostilles & Authentications Program at 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, in Denver. If your document is going to a Spanish-speaking country, the translation almost always has to be done and notarized before the apostille is issued, not after. Translation HelpDesk delivers USCIS- and consulate-ready certified translations at $0.05/word (a typical civil document like a birth or marriage certificate runs $15-25) in 24-48 hours, with a signed certificate of accuracy notarized for the Colorado Secretary of State step. Send us a photo by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com and we'll return a free 250-word sample so you can see the quality before you commit.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Colorado Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications Program (Business & Licensing Division), 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290; phone 303-894-2200. This is the ONLY office that issues apostilles and authentication certificates for Colorado documents.
HOW IT WORKS IN COLORADO
Getting an Apostille in Colorado
In Colorado, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Colorado Secretary of State's Apostilles & Authentications Program in Denver (1700 Broadway, Suite 550). First make sure your document qualifies: it must be a Colorado vital record (a birth or death certificate issued by CDPHE Vital Records), a county-issued certified copy (such as a marriage license or court record), or a document notarized by a current Colorado notary public. Then complete the Secretary of State's Apostilles & Authentications Request Form (available in English and Spanish on coloradosos.gov), indicate the destination country, and submit the original certified/notarized document with payment. You can mail the packet to the Denver office or walk it in for over-the-counter expedited service between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Confirm whether your destination country is a Hague Apostille Convention member (apostille) or not (a chain authentication that may also need U.S. Department of State and the foreign consulate).
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For most Spanish-speaking destinations, the safe sequence is: translate first, then apostille. We produce the certified English-to-Spanish (or Spanish-to-English) translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy; the translator's signature is then notarized by a Colorado notary, and THAT notarized translation is what the Secretary of State apostilles — so the apostille authenticates the notary, and translation plus seal travel as one legal packet. The most common Colorado mistake is apostilling the plain English original first and only translating later in the destination country, which many consulates and civil registries reject; the second common error is trying to apostille a translation that has no notarized translator certificate attached. Always confirm the receiving country's exact order before you file — some want the original apostilled AND a certified translation of both the document and the apostille.
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: State apostille fee is commonly reported as about $5 per document by mail and roughly $15 per document for expedited over-the-counter service in Denver, but fees change — verify the current amount on the Colorado Secretary of State fee schedule at coloradosos.gov before paying. Mail payment must be check or money order payable to "Colorado Secretary of State"; in person also accepts credit/debit. Certified translation is a separate cost from Translation HelpDesk: $0.05/word, about $15-25 for a typical one-page civil document.
Typical processing: Colorado state processing: mail-in apostilles typically take several business days plus mailing time; in-person walk-in expedited service in Denver (8:00 AM-4:30 PM) is often same-day, sometimes within minutes. Translation HelpDesk certified translation: 24-48 hours, separate from the state timeline.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Colorado?
The Colorado Secretary of State's Apostilles & Authentications Program, located at 1700 Broadway, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80290 (phone 303-894-2200). No county clerk, notary, or private company can issue the apostille itself — only the Secretary of State. You can submit by mail or walk in for over-the-counter service between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
Should I translate my document before or after the Colorado apostille?
For most Spanish-speaking countries, translate first. We prepare the certified translation with a signed accuracy certificate, a Colorado notary notarizes the translator's signature, and the Secretary of State then apostilles that notarized translation. Apostilling the English original first and translating later abroad is the mistake that gets documents rejected. Confirm your destination country's exact requirement, because a few want the original apostilled plus a separate certified translation.
How much does a Colorado apostille cost and how long does it take?
State fees are set by the Secretary of State — widely reported as about $5 per document by mail and around $15 per document for expedited over-the-counter service, but check the current fee schedule at coloradosos.gov before you pay. Mail processing generally takes several business days plus postage, while walk-in expedited requests in Denver are often completed the same day, sometimes within minutes. Our translation turnaround is separate: 24-48 hours.
How much does the certified translation itself cost?
Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05 per word, so a standard one-page civil document such as a birth, marriage, or death certificate typically runs $15-25. That includes a signed certificate of translation accuracy formatted for the Colorado Secretary of State and USCIS. We also send a free 250-word sample first so you can check the quality.
Can you translate Colorado birth and marriage certificates for the apostille?
Yes. We translate Colorado vital records (CDPHE birth and death certificates), county marriage licenses, court records, diplomas, and notarized documents in both directions, English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Every translation comes with the signed accuracy certificate needed for the notary and Secretary of State steps, backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge.
Do you work with people outside Colorado?
Yes. We are a nearshore team based in Chihuahua, Mexico serving clients across all 50 U.S. states since 2018, founded by Victor Luján. Everything is handled by email, so whether you are in Denver, Colorado Springs, or anywhere else, you send a photo of your document and we return the certified translation electronically in 24-48 hours.