Illinois Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting an Illinois marriage certificate apostille means ordering an official certified copy from the office that issued it, then having the state authenticate that copy. This guide shows you the DIY route, so you pay only the state apostille fee: "$2 for each apostille or authentication."
- Apostille fee: $2 per apostille certificate
- Certified copy from: County Clerk (county where the marriage occurred)
- 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 marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from County Clerk (county where the marriage occurred), 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 matrimonio de Illinois, solicite una copia certificada oficial a la oficina del condado correspondiente 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 Marriage Certificate. It confirms only that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine — it does not verify the facts of the marriage itself.
This matters for what you can submit. The decorative ceremony or keepsake certificate handed out by the officiant is not the official record, so it cannot be apostilled.
A plain photocopy or scan of a certified copy cannot be apostilled either. You need the certified copy carrying the issuing clerk's original signature and raised or embossed seal.
Anything else will be returned, so confirm you are holding the official sealed record before you go any further.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Illinois marriage 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
A certified copy of a marriage record is not fully public, so you generally need to be an eligible requester. Typically that means
- A certified copy: an official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised or embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature.
- Not the keepsake certificate: the decorative certificate from the ceremony or officiant is not the official record and cannot be apostilled.
- An eligible requester: usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required.
Document Requirements
Certified copy
An official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature
Not the keepsake certificate
The decorative certificate from the ceremony/officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled
Eligible requester
Usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required
- •Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
- •Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Fees & Processing Times
Varies by issuing office — order the certified copy before you apply.
$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 |
|---|---|
| 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 marriage certificate
Order the certified copy from the County Clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. The Illinois Department of Public Health provides only a verification, not a certified copy.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Assemble your packet: the certified copy, the request form, your payment, and a return envelope. Mail it to the apostille authority: Secretary of State, Index Department, 69 W. The county clerk's certified copy goes directly to the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department for the apostille ($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 marriage 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
Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
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
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 marriage 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 marriage certificate (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records) and the apostille submission addresses.
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