One of the first things people ask me when they call about an apostille is “how much is this going to cost me?” Fair question. The short answer is the state fee for an apostille in Texas is $15 per document. But that’s usually not the only cost involved, so I want to break it down so you know what to expect before you start.
The Texas Secretary of State fee
The Texas Secretary of State charges $15 per document for an apostille. That’s per document, not per page. So a 12 page power of attorney is still one $15 apostille, but a birth certificate and a marriage certificate are two separate documents, so that’s $30.
If you mail your documents in, the SOS takes a check or money order from a U.S. bank made payable to the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. If you go in person in Austin, they also take cards and cash (exact change only).
Other costs you might run into
This is where most of the apostille cost in Texas actually comes from. Depending on your document, you may need one or more of these:
- A new certified copy of your record. The SOS only apostilles original or certified copies issued by Texas. If your birth certificate is old, laminated or a photocopy, you’ll need a fresh certified copy. Right now a certified birth certificate from Texas Vital Statistics (DSHS) is $22, and a first death certificate is $20 according to the DSHS fee page.
- Notary fees. Documents like affidavits, powers of attorney and copies of passports have to be notarized by a Texas notary before they can be apostilled. A standard Texas acknowledgment is $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional one under the state fee schedule.
- Shipping. If you mail it, you’re paying to send it to Austin and for a prepaid return envelope. The SOS does not cover return shipping or add tracking for you.
- Translation. Some countries want a translated copy. If that applies to you, the translator signs a statement in front of a notary and that gets apostilled too.
- A service fee. If you use an apostille service like ours, there is a fee for handling everything, checking your documents, and getting them to Austin and back.
What about documents going to a non-Hague country?
If your document is going to a country that isn’t part of the Hague Apostille Convention, there’s an extra step. After Texas certifies it, it may need to go to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, which charges $20 per document. Then a lot of countries also want the embassy or consulate to legalize it, and they set their own fees. That process is a little longer so plan ahead. I wrote more about it in our post on apostille vs authentication.
DIY vs using an apostille service
You can absolutely do this yourself. Fill out Form 2102, include your document and the $15 fee, and mail it to the SOS. If everything is correct, you’ll get it back in a couple of weeks.
Where people get stuck is when something is wrong. The notary certificate is missing a date, the birth certificate is from the wrong office, the wording says “notario publico,” or the document is a copy of a certified record. When that happens it gets rejected and you’ve lost a couple weeks plus postage.
That’s really what you’re paying for with a service. We check it before it goes to Austin, we fix what needs fixing, and we can walk it in so you’re not sitting around waiting on the mail. If you’re around Katy, Fulshear, Cinco Ranch or anywhere in the Houston area, check out our Texas apostille services or give me a call at 832-741-3190 and I’ll tell you exactly what your document needs.
Quick cost example
Say you’re sending a Texas birth certificate and a power of attorney to Mexico:
- New certified birth certificate from DSHS: $22
- Notarizing the power of attorney: $10
- Two apostilles from the Texas SOS: $30
- Plus shipping or a service fee
So you’re looking at roughly $62 in state and notary fees before shipping or any service fees. Not bad, but it adds up if you have a stack of documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is the $15 apostille fee per page?
No. It’s per document.
Can I pay the Texas SOS online?
Not for apostille requests. Right now you mail your request with a check or money order, or go in person. Only appointment booking is online.
Do I need an apostille or an authentication?
If the country is part of the Hague Convention, you need an apostille. If not, you need an authentication and probably embassy legalization. Not sure? Call us and we’ll look it up for you.
Fees listed here are what the state agencies list as of October 2026. They can change, so always double check with the SOS before you send anything.
