TEXAS · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Texas
Getting a document apostilled in Texas means going through the Office of the Texas Secretary of State in Austin — it is the only office in the state that can issue an apostille, and Texas uses one "universal apostille" that is accepted in every country. Translation HelpDesk does not issue the apostille itself; we provide the USCIS- and consulate-ready certified translation that has to go with it, at $0.05 per word (most civil documents like birth or marriage certificates run $15-25) with 24-48 hour turnaround. For Texas vital records the sequence is almost always apostille first, then certified translation of both the document and the apostille stamp — get this order wrong and the destination country rejects it. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com for a free 250-word sample before you commit.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Office of the Texas Secretary of State — Authentications Unit (also called the Authentications Unit), in Austin. It is the only agency in Texas that can issue apostilles or authentications; county clerks and notaries public cannot.
HOW IT WORKS IN TEXAS
Getting an Apostille in Texas
In Texas, only the Office of the Texas Secretary of State issues apostilles, and it issues a single "universal apostille" that works as both an apostille (for Hague Convention countries) and an authentication (for non-Hague countries) — so one certificate is accepted everywhere. Recordable records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates must be recent certified copies from the county or state office; non-recordable documents (affidavits, diplomas, letters, translations) first need the signer's or translator's signature notarized by a Texas notary. You can mail your request to the Authentications Unit in Austin, use the bulk drop-off (roughly 24-48 hours), or book a same-day in-person appointment (offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Because the office recently relocated its in-person counter and fees can change, confirm the current address, fee, and hours on sos.texas.gov before sending anything.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Order matters. For Texas-issued vital records (birth, marriage, death) you apostille FIRST, then translate — the Secretary of State will not apostille a translation of a vital record, and most foreign consulates want the certified translation to cover both the document and the apostille certificate itself. The reverse applies to a foreign-language document you need apostilled in Texas: translate it into English first, have the translator's signed certification notarized, then apostille the notarized translation. The most common mistake we fix is a client who paid to translate a birth certificate first and then asked Texas to apostille the translation — it gets rejected, so we translate after the apostille is attached.
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: The standard Texas apostille fee has been $15 per document ($10 each for international adoption documents, capped at $100 per child), but fees can change — confirm the current amount on sos.texas.gov before paying. This state fee is separate from certified translation, which is $0.05/word (about $15-25 for a one-page civil document).
Typical processing: In-person appointments (Tuesday-Thursday) can be same-day; bulk drop-off runs about 24-48 hours; mailed requests can take several weeks once received (recently up to roughly 25 business days). Certified translation is a separate 24-48 hour turnaround.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Texas?
Only the Office of the Texas Secretary of State (Authentications/Authentications Unit) in Austin can issue an apostille or authentication for a Texas document. County clerks, notaries, and courthouses cannot. Texas issues one 'universal apostille' that serves as both an apostille for Hague Convention countries and an authentication for non-Hague countries, so the same certificate works for any destination.
Should I translate my Texas birth certificate before or after the apostille?
After. For Texas vital records (birth, marriage, death) the Secretary of State attaches the apostille to the original certified copy, and only then do you translate — because the certified translation should also cover the apostille certificate itself, which most foreign governments require. If you translate first and ask Texas to apostille the translation of a vital record, it will be rejected.
How much does a Texas apostille cost?
The standard state fee has been $15 per document, with international adoption documents at $10 each (capped at $100 per child). Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on sos.texas.gov before you pay. That state fee is separate from the certified translation, which we charge at $0.05 per word (typically $15-25 for a one-page civil document).
How long does a Texas apostille take?
Same-day if you book an in-person appointment (offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday); roughly 24-48 hours for a bulk drop-off; and mailed requests can take several weeks once they arrive (recently up to about 25 business days). Our certified translation is separate and turns around in 24-48 hours, so translation is rarely the bottleneck.
My Texas document is going to Mexico — do I still need a translation?
Yes. Mexico is a Hague Convention country, so the Texas universal apostille is honored, but Mexican authorities will still require a certified Spanish translation of both the document and the apostille. As a Chihuahua-based team serving all of the USA, we produce consulate-ready Spanish translations at $0.05 per word with a free 250-word sample.
Can Translation HelpDesk get the apostille for me?
No — the apostille can only be issued by the Texas Secretary of State, and we never charge you for something a government office does. What we handle is the certified translation that accompanies it: accurate, signed, and formatted to be accepted by consulates, courts, and USCIS. Founder Victor Luján has run Translation HelpDesk since 2018; email us at info@translationhelpdesk.com to start with a free 250-word sample.