MINNESOTA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Minnesota
Getting a document apostilled in Minnesota and getting it translated are two separate steps handled by two different parties — and mixing them up is the number-one cause of rejected paperwork. The apostille comes from the Minnesota Secretary of State in Saint Paul, which authenticates the signature on your Minnesota-issued or Minnesota-notarized document for use abroad. The certified translation comes from Translation HelpDesk: $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15–25), delivered in 24–48 hours, with a free 250-word sample and our USCIS Rejection Pledge. This page explains exactly which office does what in Minnesota, and when to translate before versus after the apostille.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Minnesota Secretary of State — Notary & Apostille (Business Services), First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101. Contact: apostille.oss@state.mn.us or 651-296-2803 (option 2).
HOW IT WORKS IN MINNESOTA
Getting an Apostille in Minnesota
In Minnesota, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Minnesota Secretary of State's Notary & Apostille division in Saint Paul — county recorders and the courts do not issue them. First, make sure your document is either a Minnesota-certified record (birth, death, or marriage certificate, a certified court judgment or divorce decree, or a certified business filing) or, for private documents like diplomas, transcripts, affidavits, and powers of attorney, that it has been signed and notarized by a Minnesota notary public first — the Secretary of State does not provide notary services. Then submit it either in person by appointment (scheduled through the office's Microsoft Bookings system, available up to 14 days ahead) or by mail with the completed Authentication Request Form and payment. The office authenticates the official's or notary's signature and attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries, or a certificate of authentication for non-Hague countries (which then needs further authentication by the U.S. Department of State).
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For a Minnesota document going abroad, the correct order is almost always apostille first, then certified translation. The Secretary of State apostillizes the English original (or the Minnesota notary's signature), and the destination country then wants a certified translation that also covers the apostille wording. The most common mistake is translating the document first and asking the state to apostille the translation — Minnesota will only touch a translation if it is separately notarized, and foreign authorities want the seal on the original record, not on the translation. If instead you have a foreign document being brought into the U.S., the apostille is obtained in the issuing country and we provide the certified English translation here for USCIS or the courts.
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: Minnesota Secretary of State charges $5.00 per apostille certificate (verify the current fee, since state fees change). That is separate from translation: Translation HelpDesk certified translation is $0.05/word, with most single civil documents (birth, marriage, death certificates) landing around $15–25.
Typical processing: Minnesota apostille: in-person appointments (booked via the Secretary of State's Microsoft Bookings, up to 14 days ahead) can often be handled the same visit; by mail typically about 5–10 business days, varying with volume — confirm current timing before you rely on it. Translation HelpDesk certified translation: 24–48 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Minnesota?
Only the Minnesota Secretary of State's Notary & Apostille division, at the First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101. County offices and courts in Minnesota do not issue apostilles — they only issue the underlying certified records. You can reach the apostille office at apostille.oss@state.mn.us or 651-296-2803, option 2.
Should I translate my document before or after the Minnesota apostille?
For a Minnesota document going overseas, apostille first, then translate. The Secretary of State seals the original English record, and your certified translation should then include the apostille text. Translating first and trying to apostille the translation is the most common mistake — Minnesota will only process a translation if it is separately notarized, and foreign authorities want the seal on the original.
Does an apostille include a translation?
No. An apostille only authenticates the signature and seal on the document; it does not translate anything and is not written to satisfy a foreign country's language requirement. If the receiving country doesn't use English, you still need a certified translation. Translation HelpDesk provides that certified translation for $0.05/word, usually $15–25 for a civil document, in 24–48 hours.
Do I need an apostille for USCIS immigration documents?
Usually not. USCIS accepts a certified English translation of a foreign document and does not require an apostille for immigration filings. People often pay for an unnecessary apostille. If your foreign birth or marriage certificate is for a green card or citizenship case, you typically just need our certified translation — backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge — not a Minnesota apostille.
How much does a Minnesota apostille cost and how long does it take?
The Minnesota Secretary of State charges $5.00 per apostille certificate (confirm the current fee, as state fees change). In-person appointments booked through their Microsoft Bookings system can often be completed the same visit; mailed requests typically take about 5–10 business days depending on volume. Our certified translation is a separate 24–48 hour service.
What documents can be apostilled in Minnesota?
Minnesota-certified records — birth, death, and marriage certificates, certified court judgments and divorce decrees, and certified business filings — can be apostilled directly. Private documents such as diplomas, transcripts, affidavits, and powers of attorney must first be signed and notarized by a Minnesota notary public, because the Secretary of State does not provide notary services.