Indiana Apostille Services — Birth, Marriage, Diplomas, FBI & Business

Need to use an Indiana document in a foreign country? Most consulates, ministries, universities, and overseas employers will ask for an apostille. This one-page certificate confirms the authority of the official who signed or sealed your record so that a foreign authority can trust it without performing local checks. Without the apostille, even an Indianapolis birth certificate, a Marion County marriage record, a Notre Dame diploma, or Articles of Incorporation from the Indiana Secretary of State may be rejected abroad.

This Indiana guide is written in a practical, wiki style and tuned for local SEO so searches like “apostille near me Indiana,” “Indianapolis apostille service,” “Fort Wayne apostille,” “Purdue diploma apostille,” and “Indiana birth certificate apostille same day” surface clear, trustworthy answers. We explain who issues apostilles in Indiana, which documents qualify, the difference between state and federal routes, realistic timelines, specific readiness steps, and how our expedited in-person filing minimizes risk and delays.

Quick Answer

Authority: For documents that originate in Indiana—certified vital records, court judgments, properly notarized documents, university records, business filings—the Indiana Secretary of State issues the apostille. For federal documents such as an FBI Identity History Summary (background check), IRS Form 6166, or FDA/USDA/USP certificates, the apostille must come from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Speed: DIY mail-in often takes weeks. With our compliance pre-check and in-person filing, many Indiana state documents can be completed in ~24 hours. We always provide a same-day scan of your apostilled document; shipping the original is optional.

Flat Rate: $145 per document — government fees included. Scans are always included. Optional $20 U.S. shipping; international shipping available by quote.

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a standardized certificate used among members of the Hague Apostille Convention (1961). It does not change or translate your record; it certifies the authority of the signature or seal on your document so that a foreign organization can accept it without additional local verification. If your destination country participates in the Hague Convention, the apostille is usually the final step. If it does not (non-Hague), your document follows an authentication path and then embassy/consular legalization. We handle both routes.

Who Issues Apostilles in Indiana?

For Indiana-origin documents—like a certified birth certificate from the Indiana Department of Health or county health department, a marriage certificate from Marion County, a divorce decree certified by a clerk of court, a power of attorney notarized by an Indiana notary, Articles of Incorporation registered with the Secretary of State, or diplomas/transcripts verified by your registrar—the issuing authority for the apostille is the Indiana Secretary of State.

Federal records (e.g., FBI background checks) must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. Submitting federal documents to Indiana will be rejected and can add weeks of delay. When in doubt, follow this memory aid: follow the issuer. Indiana issuer → Indiana Secretary of State. U.S. federal issuer → U.S. Department of State.

When Hoosiers Need an Apostille

Typical Indiana scenarios requiring an apostille include:

• Immigration & visas — Apostilled birth certificates, marriage certificates, and FBI background checks for residence or work permits abroad.
• University admission or faculty placement — Apostilled diplomas & transcripts from Indiana University (IU), Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, Ball State, Butler, Valparaiso, Indiana State, IUPUI, and others.
• Professional licensing — Apostilled licenses, education records, and sometimes FBI reports for nurses, teachers, engineers, accountants, and attorneys working overseas.
• Dual citizenship & family registry — Apostilled vital records and court orders for Italian, Irish, Polish, Portuguese, or Latin American consular filings.
• Business & banking — Apostilled Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, board resolutions, and POAs to open foreign subsidiaries, bank accounts, or bid on contracts.
• Marriage or adoption abroad — Apostilled birth/marriage certificates and court judgments for recognition overseas.

DIY Mail-In vs. Our Expedited Service (Comparison)

Factor	DIY Mail-In	Our Expedited Service
Timeline	~2–6+ weeks by mail; longer during backlogs or for errors	As fast as 24 hours for many Indiana state documents with readiness
Risk of Rejection	Higher (wrong route, stale certificate, notary defects, missing fees)	Lower (expert pre-check, correct routing, compliant packaging)
Status Visibility	Limited once mailed	Proactive monitoring + same-day scan on issuance
Effort	Self-prepare, mail, track, troubleshoot returns	Handled end-to-end: review, in-person filing, monitoring, scan, optional shipping
Best For	Flexible timelines, DIY comfort	Deadlines, visas, onboarding, closings, stress-free handling

Pricing & ETA (Shipping Optional, Scans Always Included)

Document Readiness in Indiana

Getting “apostille-ready” is the difference between a smooth 24-hour turnaround and weeks of delay. For Indiana, readiness typically means:

Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)

Use certified copies from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) or the appropriate county health department/clerk. Photocopies and scans cannot be apostilled. If your certificate is old, damaged, or hard to read, order a new certified copy before filing. For birth and death records destined abroad, ensure they include the registrar’s signature and visible seal.

Court Documents

Divorce decrees, name change orders, adoption rulings, probate orders, or guardianship letters must be certified by the clerk of court. Plain copies or web printouts are rejected. If you only have a plain copy, request a certified or exemplified copy from the clerk before apostille.

Notarized Documents

Powers of attorney, affidavits, travel consents, permission letters, and corporate resolutions must be notarized by an Indiana notary public. Check for complete venue, date, the signer’s name, notary signature, printed name, commission number/expiration, and legible stamp. If you used remote online notarization (RON), confirm the destination country accepts it; many still prefer wet-ink notarizations.

Education Records

Diplomas and transcripts from IU Bloomington, Purdue West Lafayette, Notre Dame (South Bend), Ball State (Muncie), Butler (Indianapolis), Indiana State (Terre Haute), IUPUI (Indianapolis), and other Indiana colleges frequently require registrar verification or a sealed packet. Each campus has its own process; we coordinate the right format before filing so your diploma or transcript apostille sails through.

Business & Trade Documents

Articles of Incorporation/Organization, Certificates of Existence/Good Standing, board resolutions, bylaws/operating agreements, and commercial invoices/Certificates of Origin may require certified copies from the Indiana Secretary of State or proper notarization. Tell us the destination and use case (opening a bank account, tender, cross-border sale) and we’ll structure the packet accordingly.

Step-by-Step: Indiana Apostille Process

High-level overview; we protect client privacy and our proprietary workflow.

1. Classify the document — Indiana state vs. U.S. federal. Follow the issuer.
2. Readiness pre-check — Certified copies, clerk certifications, registrar verifications, notarization quality, plus destination path (Hague apostille vs. authentication/legalization).
3. Submission — In-person filing at the Indiana Secretary of State for state documents; federal filing in Washington, D.C. for U.S. agency records (e.g., FBI background check apostille).
4. Monitoring — We track status continuously, fix issues quickly, and prevent re-mail loops.
5. Issuance & delivery — You receive a same-day scan when the apostille is issued; original shipping is optional ($20 U.S.; international by quote).

Document Playbooks (Vital, Education, Notarized, Corporate, Federal/FBI)

Birth Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

A birth certificate apostille is typically requested for residency abroad, dual citizenship, marriage overseas, or school enrollment. Use a certified copy issued by the IDOH or county health department. We pre-check formatting, file with the Indiana Secretary of State, and provide a same-day scan upon issuance.

Marriage Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

For spousal visas, marriage registration abroad, or name changes, obtain a certified marriage certificate from the county clerk/recorder where the marriage was recorded (e.g., Marion County, Hamilton County, Lake County). We handle the apostille filing so your marriage certificate apostille is accepted abroad.

Divorce Decree Apostille (Indiana)

Remarriage, inheritance, or certain residence permits require a divorce decree apostille. Request a certified copy from the clerk of court, then we apostille it with the Indiana Secretary of State. Plain copies or docket printouts are not acceptable.

Death Certificate Apostille (Indiana)

Estates, pensions, or transfer of assets overseas often need a death certificate apostille. Use a certified copy from the IDOH or county. We confirm the certificate meets apostille standards before filing.

Diplomas & Transcripts (IU, Purdue, Notre Dame & more)

Employers and universities abroad frequently require an apostille on academic credentials. Our team coordinates registrar verification for IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, Ball State, Butler, Indiana State, IUPUI, Valparaiso, and others, and then files for apostille. See our detailed guide to the apostille for diplomas & transcripts.

Notarized Documents (POA, Affidavits, Consents)

Many international transactions rely on powers of attorney (POA), sworn statements, or parental travel consents. We check notarial wording, correct any certificate issues, and file for apostille—or authentication + consular legalization for non-Hague destinations. Learn more about notarized documents apostille.

Corporate & Trade Documents (Indiana Businesses)

Opening a branch abroad, bidding on a tender, or onboarding with an overseas bank? We apostille Articles of Incorporation/Organization, Certificates of Good Standing, board resolutions, POAs, and trade paperwork. Tell us your destination and use case; we’ll prepare the correct sequence and wording to avoid costly returns.

FBI Background Check Apostille (Federal)

An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal record; the Indiana Secretary of State cannot apostille it. We route it to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and provide a same-day scan upon issuance. If you are still securing your report, start here: FBI background check apostille (service overview).

Indiana Use Cases & Scenarios (Americans Using Records Abroad)

• Hoosiers relocating for work — Apostilled birth certificates, marriage records, diplomas, and FBI checks for employer onboarding and residence permits in the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf, and Asia.
• Graduate admissions and post-docs — Apostilled IU or Purdue transcripts/diplomas for programs in Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Japan, or Korea.
• Healthcare professionals — Apostilled licenses, education records, and sometimes FBI checks for credentialing in the Middle East and Europe.
• Teachers & TEFL placements — Apostilled diplomas and state background checks/FBI for schools in the UAE, Qatar, China, Korea, and Latin America.
• Dual citizenship — Apostilled birth, marriage, and death certificates for Italian, Irish, Polish, Portuguese, and Mexican consulates.
• Indiana companies — Apostilled Good Standing and POAs to open foreign bank accounts, sign local contracts, or register subsidiaries.
• International marriage or adoption — Apostilled vital records and court judgments recognized by foreign registrars and courts.

Indiana Cities We Serve (Local Coverage)

We file at the state level and serve clients statewide—urban, suburban, and rural. Frequent requests come from:

• Indianapolis Area — Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, Greenwood, Lawrence, Beech Grove
• Northeast Indiana — Fort Wayne, New Haven, Auburn, Angola, Kendallville
• North-Central — South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen, Granger
• Northwest Indiana — Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Portage
• Wabash & Lafayette — West Lafayette, Lafayette, Monticello, Attica
• East-Central — Muncie, Anderson, Richmond, New Castle
• South-Central — Bloomington, Columbus, Seymour, Bedford
• West-Central — Terre Haute, Greencastle, Brazil
• Southwest & Ohio River — Evansville, Newburgh, Jasper, Washington
• Southeast — Jeffersonville, Clarksville, New Albany, Madison

County & Campus Coverage

We routinely process records from Marion, Lake, Allen, Hamilton, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Tippecanoe, Vanderburgh, Monroe, Delaware, Madison, Hendricks, Johnson, Porter, LaPorte, and all other counties. Campus work spans Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, Ball State, Butler, IUPUI, Indiana State, Valparaiso, University of Southern Indiana, and more.

Hague vs. Non-Hague: Embassy Legalization Path

If your destination country is a Hague member, a state or federal apostille is the final step. If your destination is non-Hague (e.g., United Arab Emirates, China, Egypt, Vietnam—policies change), we follow an authentication path and then secure embassy/consulate legalization. Requirements vary by country and document type; we will route your file correctly from the start to avoid returns.

Timelines, Risks & Contingency Planning

Government workloads fluctuate. Mail-in packets can sit for weeks; any error (wrong fee, outdated certificate, flawed notarization, incorrect cover letter) triggers a return. To protect your timeline:

• Front-load readiness — Obtain fresh certified copies, correct notarization, and registrar packets before filing.
• In-person filing — If you have fixed dates (visa appointment, school start, onboarding, closing), avoid mail-in risks.
• Leverage scans — Many consulates/schools accept a same-day scan to begin processing while the original ships.
• Parallel tracks — If your case needs both Indiana and federal work (e.g., diploma + FBI), we can run them concurrently.

Top Indiana Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong authority — Submitting an FBI report to Indiana or an Indiana county record to the U.S. Department of State.
• Uncertified or old vital records — Photocopies, faded stamps, or outdated formats are rejected.
• Notary defects — Missing seal, wrong venue, incomplete certificate, or RON not accepted by the destination.
• Skipping registrar steps — Diplomas/transcripts without verification or a sealed packet.
• Late starts — Mail-in plus re-mail cycles blow up timelines; expedite if you have deadlines.
• No destination check — Hague vs. non-Hague dictates the entire path; confirm before filing.

Readiness Checklist (Indiana)

• Is your document state (Indiana) or federal (U.S. agency)?
• For vital/court records, do you have a certified copy (not a photocopy)?
• For notarized items, is the notarization Indiana-compliant (venue, date, signature, seal, proper certificate)?
• For diplomas/transcripts, has the registrar provided any required verification or sealed packet?
• Is the destination Hague (apostille) or non-Hague (authentication + legalization)?
• Do you have a deadline that merits in-person filing and tracked handling?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues apostilles for Indiana documents?

The Indiana Secretary of State issues apostilles for Indiana-origin documents (vital, court, notarized, education, corporate).

Can Indiana apostille my FBI background check?

No. The FBI report is a federal document; it must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

How fast can an Indiana apostille be completed?

DIY mail-in takes weeks. With readiness and in-person filing, ~24 hours is possible for many Indiana state documents.

Do apostilles expire?

The apostille itself does not expire, but many consulates/universities prefer recent issuances (often within 90 days). If timing matters, expedite.

Is shipping required to get my apostille?

No. Shipping is optional. We always provide a same-day scan. U.S. shipping is $20 flat; international shipping is quoted.

Do you provide certified translations?

Yes—when requested by the destination. We can coordinate certified translations after the apostille is issued so the translation reflects the final document set.

Can you coordinate multi-state or complex files?

Yes. We routinely coordinate multiple state filings and run parallel state/federal tracks to compress total timelines.

Are you a government office?

No. We are a private service that prepares, files, monitors, and delivers apostilled and legalized documents—end-to-end.

Mini-Glossary

• Apostille — A standardized certificate used among Hague countries to authenticate a public document’s signature or seal for international use.
• Certified Copy — An official copy issued by the proper agency or court; not a photocopy or scan.
• Authentication — The verification pathway used for non-Hague destinations prior to consular legalization.
• Consular Legalization — A foreign embassy/consulate certifies your document for acceptance in non-Hague countries.
• Registrar Verification — A university registrar confirms and packages academic records for apostille purposes.
• RON (Remote Online Notarization) — Notarization conducted online; check destination acceptance and Indiana compliance.

Related Guides & Tools

• Academic Diplomas & Transcripts Apostille — Indiana university records (IU, Purdue, Notre Dame, Ball State, Butler, etc.).
• Death Certificate Apostille — For estates, pensions, and insurance matters abroad.
• Power of Attorney & Notarized Documents Apostille — POAs, affidavits, parental consents, corporate resolutions.
• Marriage Certificate Apostille — Spousal visas and marriage recognition abroad.
• Divorce Decree Apostille — Remarriage, inheritance, and court process acknowledgment abroad.
• Birth Certificate Apostille — Dual citizenship, immigration, and school enrollment overseas.

Disclaimer: Requirements and timelines can change without notice. We advise based on current guidance from the Indiana Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of State at the time of your order.