How to Complete the Ohio Secretary of State Form 8003 Apostille Request

Ohio Secretary of State Form 8003 is the request form you file to have an apostille or authentication certificate attached to an Ohio public or notarized document so another country will accept it. Download the form from the Secretary of State’s website, then mail or walk it in to the Client Service Center at 180 Civic Center Dr., Columbus, OH 43215-4138 with your original document, a $5-per-document fee, and a return envelope.¹ Mail-in requests are processed within two to three business days after the office receives them.

What You Can Submit With Form 8003

The office only certifies documents that originated in Ohio or carry the signature of an Ohio-commissioned notary public. Eligible records include:¹

Certified birth and death certificates issued by the Ohio Department of Health.
Certified marriage licenses or certificates from the probate court in the county of issue.
Certified divorce decrees, probated wills, judgments, and citizenship documents from the county Clerk of Courts where the record was filed.
Certified business entity documents such as articles of incorporation or certificates of good standing.
Any other document bearing the signature and seal of an Ohio notary public — powers of attorney, affidavits, school transcripts, and similar papers.

Documents issued by a federal agency, a federal court, or another state cannot be processed through Ohio. Federal documents go through the U.S. Department of State; out-of-state records go through that state’s equivalent office.

Business Filings Need a Certified Copy First

If you are submitting a business filing like articles of incorporation or a certificate of good standing, order a certified copy from the Secretary of State’s office first, then send that certified copy in with Form 8003.² Two separate steps, not one.

Private Documents Must Be Notarized

Anything that is not already a certified government record needs an Ohio notary’s signature and seal before it can be apostilled. The Secretary of State verifies the notary’s commission, not the content of the document.² A document notarized in another state will be rejected.

Apostille or Authentication

Form 8003 is used for both certificates. Which one you get depends on the destination country. Hague Convention member countries receive an apostille, and that single certificate is enough. Non-member countries receive an authentication, and the paperwork needs more steps.

For a non-Hague destination, the document must first be notarized by an Ohio notary, and then the notary’s signature must be verified by the Clerk of Courts in the county where the notary is commissioned.² Only after that clerk’s certification can you send the document to the Secretary of State. Even then, the receiving country may require further legalization at its embassy or consulate. Call that embassy before you start so you know the full chain.

If the Document Is Not in English

A foreign-language document must be translated into English by a certified translator. The translator then signs an affidavit in front of an Ohio notary attesting to the accuracy of the translation, and that notarized affidavit is attached to the document when you submit it.² The office does not evaluate the translation itself — only the notary’s signature on the affidavit.

Filling Out Form 8003

Pull the current version from the Secretary of State’s forms page.³ The form is short, but accuracy in each section prevents rejection.

In the contact section, enter your name, a phone number, and an email address you actually check. The office uses these to reach you if something is wrong with your submission.

In the document information section, identify the type of record and the country where it will be used. The country determines whether you receive an apostille or an authentication, so get it right.

In the return address section, write your full mailing address, including any apartment or suite number. Your original documents will be returned to whatever address you put here. A typo can mean lost originals.

Fee and Payment

The fee is $5 per document.¹ Three documents is $15, and so on. Walk-in service costs no more than mail.

Pay by check or money order made out to the Ohio Secretary of State, or complete the credit card authorization printed on the form itself.¹ Do not send card information on a separate note.

How to Submit

By Mail

Send the completed form, the original documents, your payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid express label to:¹

Ohio Secretary of State
Client Service Center
180 Civic Center Dr.
Columbus, OH 43215-4138

The return envelope is not optional. Without it, the office has no way to send your documents back. A prepaid FedEx or UPS label will get the originals back faster than a stamped envelope.

In Person

The Client Service Center takes walk-ins Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays. No appointment needed.² Bring the same package you would mail — form, originals, and payment. You leave the same day with the certificate attached.

Processing Time and What Comes Back

Mail submissions take two to three business days once the office has them.¹ That window does not include the days your envelope is in transit, so budget mailing time on both ends. If a deadline is close, walk the request in or pay for overnight return.

You get back your original document with a separate certificate page attached. The certificate carries the Great Seal of Ohio and the Secretary of State’s signature, confirming the authority of the official who signed your underlying document.²

Verifying the Certificate Later

Ohio does not offer an online lookup for issued apostilles. A foreign agency or employer that wants to confirm one is genuine must contact the office by phone at 614-466-2585 or by email at business@ohiosos.gov.² Tell the recipient this in advance, because many countries expect an online portal that Ohio does not provide.

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Ohio Secretary of State. Authentication/Apostille Request Form
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Ohio Secretary of State. Authentications and Apostilles
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Ohio Secretary of State. Forms and Fees