KENTUCKY · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Kentucky
To use a Kentucky document abroad, the apostille comes from one office only: the Kentucky Secretary of State in Frankfort, which charges a $5-per-document state fee and can process mailed requests in as little as about 3 business days. If your destination country speaks another language, you also need a certified translation — and the order matters. In almost every case you apostille the original Kentucky document first, then have both the document and the apostille certificate translated by a certified translator. Translation HelpDesk delivers certified translations at $0.05/word (about $15-25 for a standard civil document like a birth or marriage certificate) in 24-48 hours, backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge and a free 250-word sample.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Kentucky Secretary of State — Office of the Secretary of State, Apostilles & Authentications unit (Frankfort, KY). It issues both apostilles for Hague Convention countries and certificates of authentication for non-Hague countries, and is the only Kentucky office that authenticates a notary, county clerk, or State Registrar signature for use abroad.
HOW IT WORKS IN KENTUCKY
Getting an Apostille in Kentucky
In Kentucky, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Secretary of State's office in Frankfort — the state fee is $5 per document (confirm the current fee on sos.ky.gov before mailing). You can submit three ways: by mail to the Office of the Secretary of State, Apostilles & Authentications, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602-0718; in person at the Frankfort walk-in office (completed while you wait — verify the current street address on sos.ky.gov, as it has changed); or through the state's electronic e-Apostille portal for eligible PDF documents (not available for vital records). Your document must already carry the correct signatures first: a Kentucky notary's signature must be certified by the County Clerk where the notary is registered, and a vital record (birth, death, marriage) must bear the signature of the current State Registrar — you obtain that certified copy from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics and tell them it is for an apostille. Mailed requests are typically processed in about 3 business days at the office (plus mail time), though turnaround can stretch toward one to two weeks during heavy caseloads.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For a document leaving Kentucky, get the apostille FIRST, then translate — the apostille certifies the signature on the original English record, and the destination country needs the apostille certificate translated too, so translating the full apostilled package is what they actually accept. The most common and costly mistake is translating a Kentucky birth certificate before the apostille: the Secretary of State authenticates the State Registrar's signature on the original, not your translation, and getting a translation itself apostilled means adding a notarized-translator-affidavit and County Clerk step you usually don't need. For a foreign document coming INTO Kentucky (or to USCIS), it is the reverse — the origin country issues the apostille, and you then add a 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: Kentucky Secretary of State state fee is $5 per document (per authentication). Vital-record copies from the Office of Vital Statistics carry their own separate fee. Always confirm the current apostille fee on sos.ky.gov before submitting. Translation HelpDesk certified translation is separate: $0.05/word, about $15-25 for a standard civil document.
Typical processing: Mail-in: about 3 business days of processing at the Frankfort office plus USPS transit (can reach 1-2 weeks in busy periods). Walk-in in Frankfort: same day, while you wait. Online e-Apostille portal: eligible PDFs returned by email (not available for vital records). Translation HelpDesk certified translation: 24-48 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Secretary of State's office in Frankfort. It is the only authority in the state that issues apostilles (for Hague Convention countries) and certificates of authentication (for non-Hague countries). County clerks, notaries, and Vital Statistics do not issue apostilles themselves — they only provide the underlying signatures the Secretary of State then authenticates.
How much does a Kentucky apostille cost and how long does it take?
The state fee is $5 per document; always confirm the current amount on sos.ky.gov before you send payment. Mailed requests are generally processed in about 3 business days at the office (plus USPS transit time), walk-in requests in Frankfort are done while you wait, and eligible documents can go through the online e-Apostille portal. Turnaround can extend toward one to two weeks during busy periods.
Should I translate my document before or after the Kentucky apostille?
For a Kentucky document going abroad, apostille first, then translate. The Secretary of State authenticates the signature on the original English record (for example, the State Registrar on a birth certificate), so the translation is not what gets apostilled. Once the apostille is attached, have a certified translator translate both the document and the apostille certificate, because the receiving country reads both.
How do I apostille a Kentucky birth certificate?
First request a certified copy from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics and tell them it will be used for an apostille — it must bear the signature of the current State Registrar. Then submit that certified copy to the Secretary of State for the apostille. Vital records cannot use the online e-Apostille portal, so send them by mail or bring them to the Frankfort office. Add a certified translation afterward if the destination country requires one.
Does USCIS need my foreign document apostilled, or just translated?
USCIS does not require an apostille on foreign documents — it requires a complete, certified English translation. If you have a birth or marriage certificate from Mexico or another country, the apostille (if needed) is issued by that country, not by Kentucky, and then you add a certified translation. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-ready certified translations from Chihuahua, Mexico, serving all 50 states, with a free 250-word sample and our USCIS Rejection Pledge.
Can Translation HelpDesk translate my Kentucky documents for use overseas?
Yes. We translate apostilled Kentucky records — birth, marriage, death certificates, diplomas, powers of attorney and more — into Spanish and other languages, including the apostille certificate itself. Certified translation is $0.05/word (roughly $15-25 for a standard one-page civil document), delivered in 24-48 hours. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start with a free 250-word sample.