SOUTH DAKOTA · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in South Dakota
Yes, South Dakota issues apostilles, and every one of them comes from a single office: the Secretary of State's Apostille Office inside the State Capitol in Pierre, at a fee of $25 per document with 1-2 business day turnaround. An apostille only certifies the seal or signature on your English-language record, it does not translate anything, so if your birth certificate, diploma, or power of attorney is heading to a country that speaks another language, you also need a certified translation. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-ready and foreign-use certified translations at $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25 flat) with a free 250-word sample and 24-48 hour delivery. We help you order the apostille and translation in the right sequence so nothing gets rejected.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the South Dakota Secretary of State, Apostille Office (500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501; apostille@state.sd.us, (605) 773-5008).
HOW IT WORKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Getting an Apostille in South Dakota
In South Dakota, apostilles and certificates of authentication are issued only by the Secretary of State's Apostille Office in the Capitol Building in Pierre. Vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates) must be a certified copy carrying the raised or stamped seal of the county Register of Deeds or the South Dakota Department of Health; other documents such as powers of attorney, affidavits, and diplomas must first be notarized by a South Dakota notary public. You submit the original certified or notarized document with the state's Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form, the $25 per-document fee, and, critically, the name of the destination country ("USA" is not accepted). Requests are handled by mail, by drop-off/pick-up Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, or by appointment for while-you-wait expedited service; the office cannot apostille documents issued by another state or the federal government.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
For most documents leaving South Dakota, get the apostille on the original English-language record FIRST, then have the document AND the apostille certificate translated by a certified translator, because the receiving country wants both the underlying record and the Pierre apostille rendered in its official language. The most common and costly mistake is translating a birth or marriage certificate first and asking the Secretary of State to apostille the translation, the SOS authenticates the official seal or notary signature, not a loose translation, so a translated document with no qualifying seal gets rejected. If your destination country instead requires the translation itself to be certified, we notarize the translator's affidavit with a South Dakota notary so that signature can then be apostilled; tell us the destination country up front and we sequence it correctly.
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 Dakota charges $25 per document for an apostille or certificate of authentication, plus an optional $50 expedite fee (covering up to 10 documents). Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State's website before mailing; certified translation from Translation HelpDesk is billed separately at $0.05/word, with most single-page civil documents totaling roughly $15-25.
Typical processing: South Dakota processes mailed requests within about 2 business days of receipt and drop-off requests in roughly 1-2 business days; appointment-based expedited service is attempted while you wait. Add mailing time each direction if you submit by post. Translation HelpDesk delivers certified translations in 24-48 hours, so the translation step rarely becomes the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in South Dakota?
Only the South Dakota Secretary of State's Apostille Office, located at 500 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 204 in the State Capitol in Pierre. No county office, courthouse, or notary can issue an apostille, though a county Register of Deeds or the Department of Health provides the certified vital records that get apostilled.
How much does a South Dakota apostille cost and how long does it take?
The fee is $25 per document, with an optional $50 expedite fee for up to 10 documents. Mailed requests are processed within about 2 business days of receipt and drop-offs in roughly 1-2 business days; appointment-based expedited service is attempted while you wait. Confirm current fees on the Secretary of State's website before sending payment.
Should I translate my document before or after the apostille?
For most documents leaving South Dakota, apostille the original English record first, then translate both the document and the apostille certificate. The common mistake is translating first and asking the Secretary of State to apostille the translation, the office authenticates the official seal or notary signature, not a standalone translation, so it gets rejected. If your destination country wants the translation itself certified, we notarize the translator's affidavit so that signature can be apostilled.
Does the South Dakota Secretary of State provide translations?
No. The Apostille Office only authenticates seals and signatures; it does not translate documents and does not require a translation to issue the apostille. If the receiving country's language is not English, you must obtain a certified translation separately. Translation HelpDesk provides certified translations at $0.05/word with a free 250-word sample.
Can South Dakota apostille a birth certificate or diploma from another state?
No. The South Dakota Secretary of State can only apostille documents issued or notarized within South Dakota. A birth certificate from another state must be apostilled by that state's competent authority. For South Dakota vital records, use a certified copy bearing the raised or stamped seal from the county Register of Deeds or the South Dakota Department of Health.
What does Translation HelpDesk charge, and are your translations accepted?
We charge $0.05 per word, with most single-page civil documents (birth, marriage, death certificates) running about $15-25 flat. Every translation includes a signed certificate of accuracy accepted by USCIS and foreign authorities, backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge, delivered in 24-48 hours. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com for a free 250-word sample.