TENNESSEE · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Tennessee
Yes — you can get a Tennessee document apostilled and translated for use anywhere in the world, and the two are handled as separate steps. Apostilles in Tennessee are issued by the Secretary of State's Office of Authentications in Nashville for just $2 per document, while certified translation is a distinct step you complete before or after the apostille depending on which direction the document is traveling. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-ready certified translation at $0.05 per word (about $15–25 for a standard birth, marriage, or death certificate), delivered in 24–48 hours from our nearshore team in Chihuahua, Mexico. Every translation is backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge, and you can request a free 250-word sample before you commit.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Office of Authentications, Business Services Division, Tennessee Department of State (Secretary of State Tre Hargett) — 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 3rd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.
HOW IT WORKS IN TENNESSEE
Getting an Apostille in Tennessee
Tennessee apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Office of Authentications inside the Secretary of State's Business Services Division in Nashville (312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 3rd Floor); notaries and county clerks cannot issue the apostille itself. For a private document such as a diploma, power of attorney, or affidavit, first have it notarized by a Tennessee notary, then have the County Clerk in the county where that notary is commissioned certify the notary's signature, then submit it with the SS-4504 request form and the state fee. State-issued vital records signed by the Tennessee State Registrar — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates — skip the notary and county-clerk steps and go straight to the Secretary of State. You can file in person (same-day if you arrive by 2:00 p.m. Central) or by mail, with hours of Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
The apostille and the certified translation are two separate steps, and the order depends on which way the document is traveling. If your Tennessee document is headed to a Spanish-speaking country, apostille the English original first and then have Translation HelpDesk translate the document and the apostille certificate together; if a foreign-issued record such as a Mexican birth certificate is coming into the U.S. for USCIS, it must be apostilled in its country of origin — Tennessee cannot apostille a document it did not issue — and then we translate both the record and its apostille into English. The most common mistake is asking the Secretary of State to "apostille the translation": the apostille only authenticates the notary's or registrar's signature, never the accuracy of the words, so a loose or uncertified translation gets bounced.
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: Tennessee's state apostille/authentication fee is $2 per document (per Form SS-4504) — one of the lowest in the country. That fee is separate from any charge the Department of Health collects for a certified copy of a vital record, and separate from translation. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State's website before mailing. Translation HelpDesk's certified translation runs $0.05 per word, roughly $15–25 for a standard one-page civil document such as a birth, marriage, or death certificate.
Typical processing: In person at the Nashville counter: same-day if you arrive by 2:00 p.m. Central (office open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m.). By mail: roughly 3 business days of processing once received, plus mailing time each way. Translation HelpDesk returns your certified translation in 24–48 hours, so translation is rarely the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Tennessee?
The Office of Authentications within the Tennessee Secretary of State's Business Services Division, located at 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave, 3rd Floor, Nashville. It is the only office in the state authorized to issue apostilles and authentications. Notaries and county clerks cannot issue the apostille itself — earlier in the chain they only notarize or certify signatures.
Do I translate before or after getting the apostille?
It depends on direction. For a Tennessee document going abroad, apostille the English original first, then translate. For a foreign document used in the U.S. (for example, at USCIS), it is apostilled in the country of origin first, and then we translate the document and the apostille into English. Either way, have the apostille certificate itself translated too — USCIS wants every foreign-language element rendered in English.
How much does a Tennessee apostille cost?
The state fee is $2 per document under Form SS-4504 — among the lowest in the U.S. That does not include a certified copy of a vital record from the Department of Health, or translation. Because fees can change, confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State's website before you submit your request.
Does my Tennessee birth certificate need to be notarized before the apostille?
No. Vital records signed by the Tennessee State Registrar — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates — can be submitted directly to the Secretary of State without notarization or county-clerk certification. Private documents like diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits do require the notary and county-clerk steps first.
Can Translation HelpDesk apostille my document for me?
We are a certified translation company, not the issuing authority — the apostille must come from the Tennessee Secretary of State (or the origin country for a foreign document). What we provide is the USCIS-ready certified translation that accompanies your apostilled document, at $0.05 per word with 24–48 hour turnaround and a free 250-word sample. Founded in 2018 by Victor Luján, we serve all 50 states from Chihuahua, Mexico.
How fast can I get my Tennessee apostille and translation?
At the Nashville counter, apostilles are same-day if you arrive by 2:00 p.m. Central; by mail, expect about 3 business days of processing plus mailing time each way. Our certified translation is delivered in 24–48 hours, so it rarely holds up your timeline — message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com to get started.