Illinois Birth Certificate Apostille Guide
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An Illinois birth certificate apostille means ordering a certified copy from the state vital-records office, then having the Illinois Secretary of State authenticate it for use abroad. This guide shows you how to do it yourself, paying only the state apostille fee of "$2 for each apostille or authentication."
- Apostille fee: $2 per apostille certificate
- Certified copy: $10 (standard certified copy) or $15 (certified copy with information collected at time of birth)
- Certified copy from: IDPH Division of Vital Records, or your local County Clerk
- Processing Time: About 14 business days by mail; same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Illinois Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for Illinois-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Illinois birth certificate, order an official certified copy from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records, then submit it to Illinois Secretary of State with the $2 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de nacimiento de Illinois, solicite una copia certificada oficial a Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records y luego envíela a Illinois Secretary of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $2. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of your Birth Certificate issued by the state vital-records office. It does not verify the facts on the record or vouch that anything stated is true.
It only confirms that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine, so the receiving country abroad will accept the document. Because of this, the certificate you submit must be a genuine state-issued certified copy.
A hospital-issued or souvenir birth certificate, a wallet card, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled, no matter how official it looks. You must start with a properly certified copy carrying the registrar's seal before any authentication is possible.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Illinois birth certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility to order a certified copy is generally limited to the person named on the record, immediate family members, a legal representative, or someone with a documented direct interest, and a valid government-issued photo ID is required. When you order, expect to provide
- A certified original: a state-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal.
- An original signature: the registrar's original, not stamped, signature.
Document Requirements
Certified original
A state-issued certified copy — not an informational or souvenir copy
Raised or multicolor seal
An embossed or colored seal from the issuing vital-records office
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
- •Photocopies or scanned copies
- •Computer-generated or informational copies (often marked "not a valid document")
- •Documents with stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged, altered, or faded certificates
- •Hospital "keepsake" or souvenir certificates
- •Certificates issued by another state
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your birth certificate and the apostille itself.
$10 (standard certified copy) or $15 (certified copy with information collected at time of birth)
Certified birth certificate (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records)
$2
Per apostille certificate
Payment method: Check or money order payable to "Illinois Secretary of State" (mail language specifies one single check/money order covering all docs)
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $10 (standard certified copy) or $15 (certified copy with information collected at time of birth) — Certified birth certificate (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records) |
| Apostille fee | $2 — per apostille certificate |
| Payment | Check or money order payable to "Illinois Secretary of State" (mail language specifies one single check/money order covering all docs) |
| Processing — by mail | Processing time: 7 to 14 business days for mail requests. |
| Processing — in person | In-person requests accepted at Chicago and Springfield locations, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; In most cases, documents are processed while you wait on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Same-day / expedited | No separate expedited surcharge found. |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified birth certificate
Start by ordering your certified copy from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records using the available channels
- Birth/death: mail requests to IDPH; death page also provides fax and VitalChek channel.
- Marriage/civil union/dissolution verifications: mail, fax, and in-person drop-off channels listed.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the certified copy in hand, assemble your apostille packet: the certified copy, the required request form, your payment, and a return envelope. The fee is "$2 for each apostille or authentication. After you have the certified copy, the apostille is issued separately by the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department ($2 per document).
Secretary of State
Index Department
69 W. Washington Street
Suite 1240
Chicago
IL 60602 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled birth certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
Secretary of State
Index Department
69 W. Washington Street
Suite 1240
Chicago
IL 60602
Phone
312-814-8218
Hours
Index Department hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (documents for review accepted 4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Photocopies or scanned copies
Computer-generated or informational copies (often marked "not a valid document")
Documents with stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged, altered, or faded certificates
Hospital "keepsake" or souvenir certificates
Certificates issued by another state
Official Resources
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Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- ilsos.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- dph.illinois.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- cookcountyclerkil.gov· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department (Authentication / Apostille services)
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department (Authentication / Apostille services) before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Illinois birth certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $2 apostille fee and Illinois Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified birth certificate (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records) and the apostille submission addresses.
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