IOWA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Iowa
Getting a document apostilled in Iowa is a two-office job: the Iowa Secretary of State in Des Moines authenticates the signature and seal, but if your document is in — or headed to — another language, it also needs a certified translation. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-ready certified translations for Iowa documents from $0.05/word (most single-page civil records run $15–25), delivered in 24–48 hours from our nearshore team in Chihuahua, Mexico. We back every translation with our USCIS Rejection Pledge and a free 250-word sample, so you can see the quality before you commit. Whether you are apostilling an Iowa birth certificate for use abroad or translating a foreign document for USCIS, we make sure the translation fits the authentication step in the right order.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Iowa Secretary of State — Business Services Division (Paul D. Pate), Lucas Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th St., Des Moines, IA 50319; (515) 281-5204, sos@sos.iowa.gov.
HOW IT WORKS IN IOWA
Getting an Apostille in Iowa
In Iowa, apostilles and certifications are issued only by the Secretary of State's Business Services Division in the Lucas Building in Des Moines — county offices and notaries cannot issue them. You submit the completed APCERT request form together with the document to be authenticated, the destination country, and the state fee (about $5 per document), either by mail or as a walk-in between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Iowa issues an Apostille for countries in the Hague Convention and a Certification for countries that are not, so you must name the destination country on the form. Vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates must be certified copies bearing an official Iowa seal and signature (ordered from Iowa vital records or VitalChek) — a plain photocopy notarized at a bank will be rejected.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Order the translation around the apostille, not instead of it. The Iowa Secretary of State authenticates the signature and seal of the Iowa official on your English-language document, so for a document going abroad you should get the apostille on the certified original first, then have us translate both the document and the apostille certificate into the destination language. The most common mistake is translating first and asking Iowa to apostille the translation — the state can only apostille a translator's certification when it has been notarized by an Iowa notary, never the translation text itself. If instead your document is going to USCIS or another US agency, the flow reverses: keep the foreign-language original and simply add our certified English translation.
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: Iowa's state apostille/certification fee is about $5.00 per document, payable to the Iowa Secretary of State by check or by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover — always confirm the current fee before mailing, as state fees can change. That fee is separate from translation: Translation HelpDesk certifies civil documents such as birth, marriage, and death certificates at roughly $15–25 each, or $0.05/word for longer records, with a free 250-word sample so you can check quality first.
Typical processing: Iowa apostilles are typically issued the same day for in-person walk-ins (8:00 AM–3:30 PM, Monday–Friday) and within about 2 business days for mailed requests, though processing can stretch to a couple of weeks during busy periods. Our certified translation is ready in 24–48 hours, so the translation step is rarely the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get an apostille in Iowa?
Only the Iowa Secretary of State's Business Services Division, located in the Lucas Building in Des Moines, issues apostilles and certifications — not county recorders or notaries. You can walk in between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM (Monday–Friday) or mail the APCERT request form with your document and the state fee of about $5 per document. Always confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods before you send anything.
Do I translate before or after the Iowa apostille?
For a document going to another country, apostille the English original first, then translate both the document and the apostille certificate into the target language. For a foreign-language document going to USCIS, do the opposite: keep the original and add a certified English translation. Doing it in the wrong order is one of the most common reasons documents get bounced abroad.
Can the Iowa Secretary of State apostille my translation?
Iowa apostilles the signature and seal of an Iowa official or notary — not a translation on its own. A certified translation can be apostilled only when the translator's signed certification statement has been notarized by an Iowa notary; that notarization is what the Secretary of State actually authenticates.
What copy of my Iowa birth certificate do I need for the apostille?
You need a certified copy carrying the official Iowa seal and signature, ordered from Iowa vital records or through VitalChek — not a personal photocopy notarized at a bank. The Secretary of State will reject a plain notarized copy of a vital record, so start with the certified copy before requesting the apostille.
How much is a certified translation and how fast can I get it?
Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05 per word, with most single-page civil documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates) running $15–25, delivered in 24–48 hours. Every order includes a free 250-word sample and our USCIS Rejection Pledge. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start.