Delaware apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State through the Division of Corporations in Dover. The state fee is $30 per document, with paid expedite tiers for commercial requests.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026
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Key facts
| Issuing office | Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations |
|---|---|
| State fee | Commercial use: $30 per document, plus optional expedite fees. Personal use: $30 for any documents presented together. |
| State processing time | Mail and in-person requests are typically processed on the same business day. Expedite tiers: 24-hour, same day and 2-hour. |
| Where issued | John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901 |
| Form | A cover memo stating the purpose of the request and the country where the document will be used |
| Payment | The Division’s FAQ lists Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and ACH, charged when the request is processed. |
Who issues apostilles in Delaware?
The Delaware Secretary of State issues them through the Division of Corporations in Dover. The same office that forms Delaware companies also certifies their documents for use abroad.
The Division can apostille documents notarized by a Delaware notary, certified vital records from the State of Delaware, and official state documents. Its general information line is (302) 739-3073. The rules are on the Division’s Apostilles and Authentications page.
How much does a Delaware apostille cost?
For commercial use, the state fee is $30 per document. For personal use, Delaware charges $30 in total for any documents presented at the same time.
The personal rate is unusual. A family sending several personal documents together pays one $30 fee, not $30 each. Business filings do not get that treatment. Each corporate document is $30, and expedite fees are extra. These are government fees. AI Fingerprinting’s fee is separate and is quoted on request.
What are Delaware’s expedite options?
Delaware sells three apostille expedite tiers for commercial requests: 24-hour service for $40, same-day service for $50, and 2-hour service for $500.
The expedite fee is charged once per entity when all the documents are for the same entity. With several entities, it is charged for each one. Personal-use requests, such as adoption papers, death certificates and school transcripts, are exempt from expedite fees. See the Division’s apostille information sheet.
The Division’s general expedited-service cut-offs are 7 pm Eastern for two-hour service, 2 pm for same day and 7 pm for next day.
How long does a Delaware apostille take?
Delaware says mail and in-person requests are typically processed on the same business day. Hand-delivered personal requests are completed within 2 hours, according to the Division’s FAQ.
Shipping is usually the slower part. Delaware returns documents by regular USPS mail unless you supply a FedEx or UPS account number or a prepaid envelope. USPS Express Mail is excluded. Nothing is returned by fax or email.
Does Delaware accept documents notarized online?
No. The Division states that remote or electronic notarizations are not accepted for apostille requests.
This catches many business owners, because remote notarization is common for company paperwork. The document must be signed on paper before a Delaware notary. Out-of-state notarizations are refused as well.
How do I request a Delaware apostille?
- Identify the document type: a Division of Corporations certificate, a Delaware-notarized document, or a certified Delaware vital record.
- For company filings, order a separate certified copy or certificate for each filing. “One-cover” certifications cannot be apostilled.
- For foreign-language documents, prepare an English translation and have both versions notarized by a Delaware notary.
- Write a cover memo stating the purpose of the request and the country where the document will be used.
- Choose standard processing or an expedite tier, and arrange payment.
- Send the package to the Division of Corporations in Dover with a prepaid return envelope or a FedEx or UPS account number.
Which documents will Delaware not apostille?
Delaware refuses out-of-state documents and notarizations, federal documents, photocopies, foreign-issued documents, and anything intended for use inside the United States.
The Division also will not apostille U.S. citizenship documents. For countries outside the Hague Convention, it issues an “authentication” in place of an apostille. Certificates can be checked through the Division’s online validation page.
What a Delaware apostille looks like
A Delaware apostille is spare: a single thin-line box on plain white paper, with a gold foil seal. The description below is from a 2025 sample.
- Title: “Apostille” in large serif type. No state letterhead.
- Typeface: the ten numbered lines are in an italic typewriter-style font, with “Certified” in large serif in the middle.
- Language: English only, apart from the French convention title.
- Place and signer: “at Dover, Delaware”, “by Secretary of State, Delaware Department of State”. The date is written in words.
- Number format: “No.” followed by nine digits, with no separators.
- Seal: a gold foil starburst seal with the state coat of arms: an ox, a wheat sheaf and a ship.
It names no destination country and carries no disclaimer text. It is stapled at the top center over the document.
Common reasons for rejection
Delaware lists what it will not accept. These are the refusals most relevant to business clients.
- The document was notarized remotely or electronically.
- The notary is commissioned in another state.
- Several filings were certified under one cover.
- A photocopy was submitted.
- A foreign-language document came without a notarized English translation.
- The cover memo did not state the purpose or the destination country.
- The document is federal, foreign-issued or for use within the United States.
How AI Fingerprinting helps
AI Fingerprinting is a private document service. We are not a government agency and not a law firm. Our office is at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684, open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. We accept mail-in requests from anywhere in the United States.
Delaware work is mostly corporate, and the questions are practical. Which certificate does the foreign bank want? Is each filing certified on its own? Was the signature notarized on paper in Delaware? We go through those points with you, draft the cover memo with the correct country, and match the expedite tier to your deadline.
Our Delaware apostille price is not published. Request a quote.
Get a quote Call (360) 998-7302 Book an appointment
Frequently asked questions
Is there a discount for personal or adoption documents in Delaware?
Yes. Personal-use requests cost $30 for any documents presented at the same time, and they are exempt from expedite fees.
Do I have to state the country on a Delaware request?
Yes. Delaware requires a cover memo clearly stating the purpose of the request and the country in which the document will be used.
How does Delaware return apostilled documents?
By regular USPS mail, unless you provide a FedEx or UPS account number or a prepaid envelope. USPS Express Mail is excluded, and nothing is returned by fax or email.
Can Delaware apostille a document in a foreign language?
Yes, with an English translation. Both the original and the translation must be notarized. The Division does not translate or notarize.
Is the Delaware 2-hour service available for personal documents?
Personal-use requests are exempt from expedite fees. The Division’s FAQ says hand-delivered personal requests are completed within 2 hours.
Can I book an appointment with the Delaware Division of Corporations?
The Division lists an appointments line at (302) 739-3077 and a general information line at (302) 739-3073.
What does Delaware issue for countries outside the Hague Convention?
An authentication instead of an apostille. The Division also issues a Notary Good Standing certificate.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the authority in the destination country, and confirm current fees with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Corporations: Apostilles and Authentications
- Delaware Division of Corporations: Submitting Non-Commercial Documents
- Delaware Division of Corporations: Apostille information sheet (PDF)
- Delaware Division of Corporations: Expedited Services
- Delaware Division of Corporations: FAQs
- Delaware Division of Corporations: Fee Schedule, revised August 1, 2024 (PDF)