SOUTH CAROLINA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in South Carolina
Apostilles in South Carolina are issued by one office only: the Secretary of State's Authentications unit in Columbia, which certifies documents for about $5 each (verify the current fee) with a roughly 2-business-day turnaround. That office authenticates the signature on your document — it does not translate anything, so the certified translation is a separate step you handle with a qualified provider. Translation HelpDesk delivers court- and USCIS-ready certified translations at $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25) with a free 250-word sample and 24-48 hour turnaround. We tell you exactly when to translate relative to the apostille so a South Carolina consulate or a foreign registry doesn't bounce your paperwork.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the South Carolina Secretary of State's Office — Authentications (Division of Business Filings), 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201; phone (803) 734-2512. This is the only office that issues apostilles and authentications in South Carolina.
HOW IT WORKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Getting an Apostille in South Carolina
In South Carolina, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Secretary of State's Office (Authentications unit) at 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201. Your document must first be either notarized by a commissioned South Carolina notary public or issued/certified by an official whose signature is on file with the state — for a birth, death, marriage, or divorce record that means a certified copy from DHEC's Division of Vital Records (or the county Probate/Clerk of Court), never a plain photocopy. You then submit the document with an authentication cover letter, the destination country named, a self-addressed stamped return envelope, and payment of the per-document fee (verify the current amount with the office; it has been $5 per document). Submit by mail, UPS/FedEx, or hand-delivery between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, and note whether the destination country is a Hague Convention member (apostille) or not (certification/authentication).
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For a South Carolina document going to a Spanish-speaking country, apostille the original English record at the SC Secretary of State FIRST, then order the certified Spanish translation and have us translate both the document AND the apostille certificate stapled to it — many consulates and civil registries reject a translation that omits the apostille. The most common mistake is doing it backwards: getting the translation notarized and apostilled instead of the original, which authenticates the translator's signature rather than the actual record. For a foreign Spanish-language document you need in South Carolina (USCIS, a court, a school), the order flips — get the certified English translation; USCIS does not require an apostille, so don't pay for one you don't need.
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: South Carolina Secretary of State apostille/authentication fee has been about $5 per document — confirm the current amount with the Authentications office before mailing. Certified copies of vital records from DHEC or a county office cost extra and are billed separately by that agency. Translation HelpDesk certified translation is $0.05/word, with most civil documents (birth, marriage, death certificates) running $15-25 each.
Typical processing: South Carolina Secretary of State: about 2 business days once they receive the document. Hand-delivery (8:30 am-4:30 pm) is fastest; mail or UPS/FedEx adds transit time both ways. Add extra days if you first need a certified vital record from DHEC. Translation HelpDesk certified translation: 24-48 hours.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in South Carolina?
Only the South Carolina Secretary of State's Office (Authentications unit), located at 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 734-2512. No county clerk, notary, or third party can issue an apostille — they only prepare the underlying document.
Should I translate my document before or after the South Carolina apostille?
For a South Carolina document going abroad, get the apostille first, then have the certified translation cover both the original document and the apostille certificate. Translating first is the number-one mistake we fix — it usually means the apostille itself ends up untranslated, and many foreign registries reject it.
How much does a South Carolina apostille cost and how long does it take?
The state fee has been $5 per document (confirm the current amount with the Secretary of State), with a typical turnaround of about 2 business days once the office receives it. Mailing time and getting certified copies from DHEC add to the total. Our certified translation is separate: $0.05/word, most civil documents $15-25, delivered in 24-48 hours.
How do I apostille a South Carolina birth or marriage certificate?
You need a certified copy from DHEC's Division of Vital Records (birth/death) or the county Probate Court (marriage) — a photocopy will be rejected. Order it through VitalChek or DHEC at (803) 898-3630, then send that certified copy to the Secretary of State for the apostille. Add a certified Spanish translation before or after depending on where it's going, and we'll advise which.
Do I need an apostille for a translation submitted to USCIS?
No. USCIS accepts a certified English translation with a signed certificate of accuracy and does not require an apostille. Apostilles are for documents used by a foreign government, not for immigration filings inside the United States. Don't pay for an apostille you don't need.
Can Translation HelpDesk handle a South Carolina document from anywhere in the state?
Yes. We serve all of South Carolina — Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and everywhere in between — remotely from our Chihuahua, Mexico nearshore team. Send a scan by email, get a free 250-word sample, and receive court- and USCIS-ready certified translations in 24-48 hours. Founded by Victor Luján, serving the U.S. since 2018.