MONTANA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Montana
If you need a document apostilled in Montana, the one office that can do it is the Notary & Certifications Division of the Montana Secretary of State in Helena — and getting the certified translation sequenced correctly is what keeps the whole file from being rejected. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-accepted certified translation at $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25) with 24-48 hour turnaround, a free 250-word sample, and a USCIS Rejection Pledge. We are a Chihuahua, Mexico nearshore team serving all 50 states, founded by Victor Luján in 2018. Below is exactly how Montana's apostille process works and where a certified translation fits.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Notary & Certifications Division of the Montana Secretary of State's Office (Secretary Christi Jacobsen), State Capitol, Helena, MT.
HOW IT WORKS IN MONTANA
Getting an Apostille in Montana
In Montana, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Notary & Certifications Division of the Secretary of State's Office in Helena — not by counties or courts. You submit the original notarized or certified document with a completed Certification Request Form and the per-document fee, either by mail to PO Box 202801, Helena, MT 59620-2801, online through the Secretary of State's portal with the document delivered by mail or in person, or in person at Room 260 of the State Capitol. A valuable free step first: the Division will pre-check your notarized document if you email a scan before submitting, which heads off the most common rejections. The office issues an apostille when the document is destined for a Hague Convention country and an authentication (for later legalization at a consulate) when it is not.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Certified translation and the apostille are two separate steps, and the order matters. For a Montana-issued document going abroad (birth or marriage certificate, diploma, background check), apostille the original English record first, then translate the document and the apostille certificate together — many destination countries require the apostille itself to be translated. The most common mistake we fix is people translating first and trying to apostille the translation: Montana only apostilles a notary's or issuing official's signature, so a translator's certificate can be authenticated only if a Montana notary notarizes the translator's affidavit in English. If instead you are bringing a foreign document INTO the U.S. for USCIS, you do not apostille anything here — USCIS simply requires a certified English translation, which is exactly what we provide.
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: Montana charges $10 per document/notarization for an apostille or authentication, regardless of page count; a document with signatures from several notaries may be billed per notarization. Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's website before paying, since state fees change.
Typical processing: Montana's normal processing time is 3-5 business days from the date the Notary & Certifications Division receives your request, whether submitted in person or by mail; for mailed requests, add postal transit time each way. Our certified translations are typically delivered in 24-48 hours, so translation is rarely the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Montana?
Only the Notary & Certifications Division of the Montana Secretary of State's Office in Helena. County clerks, courts, and notaries cannot issue apostilles themselves — they only prepare or notarize the underlying document that the Secretary of State then authenticates.
Should I translate my document before or after getting the Montana apostille?
For a Montana document going to another country, apostille the original English document first, then translate both the document and the apostille certificate, since many countries require the apostille to be translated too. Do not translate first and try to apostille the translation — Montana authenticates a notary's signature, not the translated text.
Do I need an apostille for USCIS?
Usually no. Apostilles are for U.S. documents used abroad. For a foreign document submitted to USCIS inside the United States, you generally just need a complete certified English translation, not an apostille. We provide that certified translation with a signed certificate of accuracy USCIS accepts.
How much does a Montana apostille cost and how long does it take?
Montana charges $10 per document/notarization, and normal processing is 3-5 business days from when the Notary & Certifications Division receives your request; confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's site before paying. Mailed requests should allow extra transit time each way.
Can the Montana Secretary of State apostille a document that is in Spanish?
The office can apostille a document in a foreign language only if the notarization itself is done in English, and it does not provide translation services. That is why a translator's certificate must be notarized in English by a Montana notary before it can be authenticated — and why ordering the certified translation correctly matters.
Does Montana pre-check documents before apostille?
Yes. The Notary & Certifications Division will review a scan of your notarized document by email at no charge before you submit, which prevents the most common causes of rejection. We recommend using this free pre-check together with a properly prepared certified translation.