How to Get an Illinois Apostille by Mail
The mail-in process, step by step
In short: To get an Illinois apostille by mail, send your Illinois-issued or Illinois-notarized document — with any required notarization completed — to the Illinois Secretary of State with the $2-per-document fee and a return envelope; standard processing takes 7–14 business days. Most people use a service to handle submission, avoid rejection, and get tracked return shipping.
The steps
- Confirm the document is apostille-eligible (right certified copy; correct notarization).
- Include the $2-per-document state fee and a prepaid return envelope.
- Mail to the Illinois Secretary of State (Chicago or Springfield).
- Wait 7–14 business days, plus shipping each way.
Using a service prevents the common rejection reasons — wrong copy, missing notarization, incorrect fee — and adds tracked return shipping. See our out-of-state guide.
Key facts
- $2 per document
- Chicago & Springfield counters
- 7–14 business days by mail; faster in person / by hand-carry
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Illinois state fee?
$2 per apostille — the only mandatory government fee.
How long does mail processing take?
About 7–14 business days at the state, plus shipping time each way.