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If you need your ÌÒÌ«ÀÉÓ³Ïñdiploma or transcript authenticated for use in another country, the Office of the Registrar can notarize the document for you. From there, the document must be authenticated by two additional government offices before it can be used abroad. This page explains the full process and what our office can do to help.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a certificate attached to a notarized document that verifies it for use in a foreign country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries that do not participate in the Hague Convention instead require full legalization, which involves an additional step with the U.S. Department of State and the destination country's consulate.

If you are unsure which category applies to your destination country, consult the .

ÌÒÌ«ÀÉÓ³Ïñdoes not provide diplomas with an apostille seal. You must receive this from the state of Maryland. ÌÒÌ«ÀÉÓ³Ïñ will provide a notarized diploma that you may submit to the state to receive an apostille seal.

 

Request notarization & have it authenticated

Submit a request to the Office of the Registrar for a notarized copy of your diploma by using the .

A fee of $50 is due for each diploma, which you will be able to pay with a debit or credit card once you submit the request. Please also email registrar@goucher.edu that you require the diploma to be notarized.

Once notarized, you'll need to submit your document to two more offices, in this order:

1. Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County, Licensing Department, 20 W. Courtland Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 (410-638-3489). This authenticates our notary's signature. Fee: $1.00 per notary seal, payable by check or money order.
2. Maryland Secretary of State, Certifications Desk, 16 Francis Street, Wineland Building, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5521). This is where the apostille itself is issued. Fee: $5.00 per document (please confirm current pricing at before mailing).

If mailing, each office will need a prepaid return envelope and its own separate payment.

Full legalization (Non-Hague countries)

If your destination country does not participate in the Hague Convention, the apostilled or certified document must also be sent to:

• U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office, 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 (202-485-8000).
• The destination country's consulate or embassy for final authentication

Requirements, costs, and mailing addresses vary by consulate. Contact the relevant consulate directly for instructions.

Have additional questions?

Contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@goucher.edu) with questions about requesting a notarized diploma or transcript. For questions about county authentication or state apostille fees and processing times, contact the Harford County Clerk's Office or the Maryland Secretary of State directly using the information above.