The Indiana Secretary of State issues apostilles in Indianapolis for $2 each. Birth and death certificates, adoption documents, and school records are free. Mail takes 1-2 business days.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026
Key facts
| Issuing office | Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
|---|---|
| State fee | $2.00 per authentication. No fee for the document types listed below. |
| State processing time | Mail: normally 1 to 2 business days from receipt. In person: while you wait, within document limits. |
| Where issued | 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-018, Indianapolis, IN 46204. No branch offices. |
| Form | Request for Apostille Authentication, State Form 56720 (R3 / 4-25) |
| Payment | Mail: check or money order payable to “Secretary of State”. In person: credit, debit, check, or money order. |
State government fees and times, verified October 1, 2026. They are not AI Fingerprinting’s fee or turnaround.
Is an Indiana apostille really free?
For some documents, yes. Indiana charges no fee for five categories of document and $2.00 for everything else.
| No state fee | Indiana birth certificates, Indiana death certificates, adoption documents, student transcripts and diplomas, and documents prepared by the Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| $2.00 each | All other documents, including marriage records, divorce decrees, and notarized documents such as powers of attorney |
The fee rule is printed on State Form 56720. The state fee is the smallest part of the job. The cost that remains is getting the right certified copy, mailing it safely, and paying for return shipping. Our service fee is separate, so request a quote.
How long does an Indiana apostille take?
Mail requests are normally completed within 1 to 2 business days of receipt. A request received by noon is mailed the next business day.
In person, the office processes up to 10 documents while you wait if you have an appointment, and up to 5 documents without one. Appointments are booked through the state’s online scheduler. Postal time to and from Indianapolis is extra.
Where is the Indiana apostille office?
There is one office: the Business Services Division at 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-018, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Indiana has no branch offices.
The office phone is (317) 234-9768 and the email is INBiz@sos.in.gov. Both are listed on the Secretary of State’s authentication page. That page describes two ways to file, in person and by mail. It does not describe an online application.
Which Indiana documents need to be notarized first?
Everything except birth, death, marriage, and divorce records needs a proper notarization before Indiana will apostille it.
School records are the usual surprise. They are free to apostille, but they must carry a notarization that shows the jurisdiction, a statement from a school official, the notary’s signature and seal, and the notary’s commission details. A plain transcript in a sealed envelope is not enough.
Where do I get an Indiana birth, death, or marriage record?
Birth and death records come from Vital Records at the Indiana State Department of Health or from a County Health Officer. They need no notarization.
Marriage records work differently. A marriage license must first be certified by the current circuit court clerk of the county where the marriage took place. Our Indiana court document page covers that step. The office only authenticates Indiana vital records.
What can Indiana not apostille?
Indiana does not apostille federal documents, documents for use in Puerto Rico, or records from other states.
The request form tells you not to submit FBI background checks, citizenship documents, federal-court sealed documents, or documents from the Department of Justice, Treasury, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, or the Patent and Trademark Office. Those go to the U.S. Department of State.
How do I get an Indiana apostille by mail?
Mailing a request to Indianapolis takes six steps. The return envelope is the one people forget.
- Get the original document or certified copy. Have it notarized if it is not a vital record.
- Complete State Form 56720 and name the country where the document will be used.
- Work out the fee: $2.00 per document, or nothing for the free categories.
- Write a check or money order to “Secretary of State” if a fee is due.
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. For overnight return, enclose a pre-paid airbill. Prepaid return is mandatory if the apostille is going abroad.
- Mail the packet to 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-018, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
What a Indiana apostille looks like
An Indiana apostille is headed “STATE OF INDIANA, SECRETARY OF STATE” in capitals above a ten-field certificate. Unlike some states, the footer is in English only.
On the sample we reviewed, the place of certification is “Indianapolis, IN”. Field 7 names the office, “Secretary of State, State of Indiana”, not an individual. A large black “Seal of the State of Indiana 1816” is printed on the certificate. A second seal, stamped in blue ink, sits at the right edge and runs off the page. Indiana has no lookup website printed on the certificate. Instead the footer says: “To verify the issuance of this Apostille, email INBiz@sos.in.gov.” The footer also carries the notice about use in countries that are not party to the Convention.
Common reasons for rejection
The first four come from Indiana’s own 2025 apostille training material. The last comes from the request form.
- Photocopies or scans were submitted instead of originals or certified copies.
- An official seal or signature is missing.
- A non-vital record was notarized improperly.
- The request form is incomplete.
- No return envelope or prepaid airbill was enclosed with a mail request.
How AI Fingerprinting helps
AI Fingerprinting is a private document service at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684. We are not a government agency and not a law firm. We accept mail-in requests from anywhere in the United States.
Indiana’s fee is tiny, so the value of a service is in getting the packet right the first time. You mail your Indiana document to us. We check the seal and signature, confirm whether it falls in the free or the $2 category, complete State Form 56720, and send it to Indianapolis with prepaid return. You do not need to visit Indiana or book a counter appointment. Request a quote and we will list the state fee, even when it is zero, apart from our own.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Indiana apostille cost?
The state charges $2.00 per authentication. There is no fee for Indiana birth and death certificates, adoption documents, student transcripts and diplomas, and documents prepared by the Secretary of State.
Does Indiana have a branch office outside Indianapolis?
No. Apostilles are issued only by the Business Services Division at 302 W. Washington Street, Room E-018, Indianapolis.
Do I need an appointment to go in person?
No, but it helps. With an appointment the office handles up to 10 documents while you wait. Walk-ins are limited to 5 documents.
Can Indiana apostille an FBI background check?
No. The state form says not to submit FBI background checks. They go to the U.S. Department of State.
How do I verify an Indiana apostille?
By email. The certificate says to email INBiz@sos.in.gov to verify that the apostille was issued.
Can an Indiana apostille be used in Puerto Rico?
No. The Indiana Secretary of State cannot authenticate documents for Puerto Rico.
Is a school transcript free to apostille in Indiana?
Yes, there is no state fee. The transcript must still be notarized with a school official’s statement and the notary’s seal and commission details.
Can I pay the Indiana fee by card through the mail?
No. Mail requests are paid by check or money order payable to Secretary of State. Cards are accepted in person.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm document requirements with the authority in the country that will receive your document.
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