UTAH · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Utah
Getting a document apostilled in Utah runs through one office: the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in Salt Lake City, which is Utah's competent authority since the state has no Secretary of State. It authenticates notarized documents, court records, and certified vital records so they'll be recognized in Hague Convention countries — and if your destination country speaks another language, you'll usually need a certified translation of both the document and the apostille. Translation HelpDesk provides court-ready certified translations at $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25 total), with a free 250-word sample and 24-48 hour turnaround, backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge. We translate the document and the apostille together so your package clears the consulate the first time.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Utah (Authentications/Apostille Office) — Utah has no Secretary of State, so the Lieutenant Governor is the state's competent authority for apostilles and certificates of authentication. Located at the Utah State Capitol, 350 North State Street, Suite 220, Salt Lake City, UT 84114; mailing address PO Box 142325, Salt Lake City, UT 84114; authentications.utah.gov.
HOW IT WORKS IN UTAH
Getting an Apostille in Utah
In Utah, apostilles and authentications come from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, not a Secretary of State — you can visit in person at the Utah State Capitol (350 North State Street, Suite 220, Salt Lake City) by scheduled appointment, or mail your documents to PO Box 142325, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 with a completed request form, payment, and a self-addressed return envelope. Before you submit, each document must be an original with an original (not photocopied) signature and, where applicable, a complete and compliant Utah notarial certificate — the office authenticates the notary or issuing official's signature, it does not notarize for you, so get any notarization done first. The physical drop box has been discontinued, so plan on either an appointment or mail-in. For vital records like Utah birth, death, or marriage certificates, request a certified copy from the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics rather than trying to apostille your personal photocopy.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
The order matters: get the document notarized or certified, obtain the Utah apostille, and then have the certified translation done last so it covers both the underlying document and the apostille certificate — many foreign consulates require the apostille itself to be translated. The most common mistake is translating first and then apostilling the translation: Utah will simply authenticate the translator or notary's signature, and the destination authority may reject it because the original record was never apostilled. Note that Utah does not require your document to be in English to issue the apostille, so translation is a separate step you handle for the receiving country, not a prerequisite for the state.
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: Utah's state fee is modest and depends on the service method — roughly on the order of about $5 per document for mail-in and around $20 per document for same-day in-person service. Rates were updated in mid-2025 and can change, so confirm the current fee directly at authentications.utah.gov before you send payment. (Translation HelpDesk's certified translation is separate and priced at $0.05/word, typically $15-25 for a standard civil document.)
Typical processing: In-person by appointment is typically same-day, often about 10 minutes to 2 hours. Mail-in is generally around 1-3 business days once the Lieutenant Governor's office receives your documents, plus USPS or courier transit time each direction. Translation HelpDesk delivers the certified translation in 24-48 hours, so it rarely becomes the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Utah?
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Utah — the state's Authentications/Apostille office at the Utah State Capitol, 350 North State Street, Suite 220, Salt Lake City. Utah does not have a Secretary of State, so unlike most states the Lieutenant Governor is the competent authority under the Hague Apostille Convention. You can find current forms and appointment scheduling at authentications.utah.gov.
Should I translate my document before or after getting the Utah apostille?
Almost always after. Get the Utah apostille on the original or certified document first, then have the certified translation done so it also covers the apostille certificate itself — many receiving countries require the apostille to be translated too. If you translate first and apostille the translation, Utah only authenticates the translator or notary's signature, and the foreign authority may reject it because the underlying record was never apostilled.
Does Utah require my document to be translated into English before it can be apostilled?
No. The Lieutenant Governor's office states it does not require documents to be translated into English to be processed. Translation is a separate step you arrange for the country that will receive the document — it is not a prerequisite for the Utah apostille.
How much does a Utah apostille cost and how long does it take?
The state fee is modest — roughly on the order of about $5 per document by mail and around $20 per document for same-day in-person service, but rates changed in mid-2025, so verify the current fee at authentications.utah.gov. Timing is typically same-day for in-person appointments (often 10 minutes to 2 hours) and about 1-3 business days for mail-in once received, plus transit time.
Do I need a US apostille for documents I'm submitting to USCIS?
Generally no. USCIS accepts a certified English translation of a foreign document and does not require a US apostille for immigration filings inside the United States. Apostilles matter when you send a US-issued document (like a Utah birth certificate) abroad, or when a foreign country's government asks for one. For USCIS filings, Translation HelpDesk provides certified translations backed by our USCIS Rejection Pledge.
Can Translation HelpDesk help if I'm in Utah?
Yes. We serve all of Utah and the entire USA from our nearshore office in Chihuahua, Mexico, founded by Victor Luján in 2018. Certified translation is $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25), with a free 250-word sample and 24-48 hour turnaround. Message us by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com and we'll translate your document and its apostille together so the package clears on the first try.