Apostille Transcripts

Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on public documents such as birth certificates, court orders, or any other document issued by a federal agency or certified by a U.S. or foreign consul. An apostille certifies the document(s), so the document can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.

Apostilles may be obtained from the Texas Secretary of State (or the United States Secretary of State) confirming that the academic officials and notaries in the Registrar's Office are authorized to certify such documents in their roles as notary public. 

• Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad – U.S. Department of State
• The ABC’s of Apostilles - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Texas Secretary of State Apostilles/Authentication of Documents
• Apostille Requirements - U.S. Department of State

You will need to bring or send the documents which must be notarized to the Office of the Registrar. Your documents must be notarized before the apostille can be obtained. 

• NOTE: If notarizing an official transcript, the transcript must be purchased and printed on sight in our office. We will not accept transcripts brought from outside our office. 
• NOTE: If requesting to apostille a diploma, it is recommended that you order a duplicate diploma to ensure your original diploma is kept in good condition. Duplicate diplomas can be ordered on our diploma page.

Once your documents are notarized, you may take or mail the documents to the Texas Secretary of State to acquire the apostille. 

• NOTE: We do not mail your documents to the Texas or United States State Departments. This must be done of your own accord. 

A notarized document is one which has been denoted with a stamp (or seal), indicating that the signature on the document is legitimate. A notarized document helps to convey to the recipient that the document presented to them is official and authentic. 

• Official SHSU transcripts 
• Official SHSU diploma (both original and duplicate) 
• Letter of degree verification 
• Letter of enrollment verification 
• Various other SHSU documents and letters 

 NOTE: It is recommended you contact the Registrar’s Office prior to bringing your documents in for notarization. If we are to notarize a document with an academic official’s signature, we MUST witness said signature being written, therefore the academic official must be present for notarization. 

1. Bring the Sam Houston State University document(s) which need notarization to the Registrar’s Office. 
2. Notify the front counter staff that you need notarization assistance. 
3. If an official transcript is to be notarized, you must purchase one through Parchment, SHSU’s third-party credentials system. 
4. Present the document(s) needing notarization along with your picture ID to the notary public. 
5. The notary public will coordinate with the necessary university officials in order to certify the document. 

NOTE: Should your documents need the signature of another university official other than those in the Office of the Registrar, please be sure to coordinate and plan for them to be present at the time of signing. 

Yes, documents can be mailed to: 

Yes, but a signed letter of request must accompany the documents wishing to be notarized, as well as instructions regarding the return address the documents will be mailed to. 

NOTE: If you would like SHSU to mail your notarized documents to a third-party recipient, written and signed authorization is required to allow us to release your notarized documents.