CONNECTICUT · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Connecticut
In Connecticut, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Authentication Unit in Hartford — and since September 2, 2025 nearly every request must go through the state's online system at sots.service.ct.gov/apostille. An apostille certifies the Connecticut notary or official who signed your document; it does not translate the content. If your record is in Spanish (or another language), or is headed to a country that speaks one, you also need a certified translation — and that is where Translation HelpDesk comes in at $0.05 per word (most civil documents run $15-25), delivered in 24-48 hours with a free 250-word sample and our USCIS Rejection Pledge. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State — Authentication Unit (Business Services Division), Hartford, CT.
HOW IT WORKS IN CONNECTICUT
Getting an Apostille in Connecticut
Connecticut apostilles and authentications come from one place: the Secretary of the State's Authentication Unit, within the Business Services Division in Hartford (165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106). As of September 2, 2025 the office no longer accepts paper order forms — you create an account and file through the state's Online Apostille Application at sots.service.ct.gov/apostille, then either mail the physical documents with your work-order receipt to the Business Services Division in Hartford, or, beginning July 6, 2026, request an electronic e-Apostille that is issued and delivered digitally. Your document must be notarized by a Connecticut notary or certified by a Connecticut official, dated within the last 10 years, and carry an original signature or seal. Traditional paper orders run about 5-7 business days with 24-hour expedited service available, while e-Apostilles are typically processed within one business day.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For a Connecticut-issued document heading abroad, apostille the original first, then have the certified translation made from the apostilled copy so the apostille page itself is translated too — many consulates reject translations that leave it out. The most common mistakes are translating first (which leaves the apostille untranslated) or assuming the Secretary of the State will apostille the translation itself; Connecticut only apostilles a translation when the translator's certification is notarized by a Connecticut notary, and it can never apostille a foreign-issued record — that must be done in the country that issued 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: Connecticut's state apostille fee is $40 per document (about $15 for adoption records) — verify the current amount at sots.service.ct.gov/apostille before filing, as state fees change. Translation HelpDesk certified translation is separate: $0.05 per word, with most civil documents running $15-25.
Typical processing: Connecticut paper apostilles: about 5-7 business days standard, with 24-hour expedited available. E-Apostilles (available from July 6, 2026): roughly 1 business day. Translation HelpDesk certified translations: 24-48 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Connecticut?
The Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Authentication Unit, part of the Business Services Division in Hartford, is the only authority that issues apostilles and authentications for Connecticut documents. Since September 2, 2025 requests must be filed through the state's online system at sots.service.ct.gov/apostille rather than by paper order form.
Do I translate before or after the Connecticut apostille?
For a Connecticut document going overseas, apostille it first, then translate the document and the apostille page together so nothing is missing. For a foreign document you plan to use in the United States (for example, with USCIS), you usually just need a certified English translation — not a Connecticut apostille, since Connecticut can only apostille its own documents.
Will Connecticut apostille my translation?
Only indirectly. The Authentication Unit apostilles the signature of a Connecticut notary or official, not the accuracy of a translation. If your destination requires an apostille on the translation, we provide the certified translation and a translator's certification, which a Connecticut notary can then notarize so the state can apostille the notary's signature.
How much does a Connecticut apostille cost and how long does it take?
The state fee is $40 per document, with adoption records around $15 — confirm the current amount at sots.service.ct.gov/apostille before you file. Paper apostilles take about 5-7 business days (24-hour expedited is available), and e-Apostilles are typically processed within one business day. Translation HelpDesk certified translations are $0.05 per word (most civil documents $15-25) and delivered in 24-48 hours.
Can Connecticut apostille my Mexican or other foreign birth certificate?
No. Connecticut can only apostille documents notarized or issued within Connecticut, so a foreign record must be apostilled in the country that issued it. For use in the United States, what you typically need instead is a certified English translation — which we provide, backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge and a free 250-word sample.