Maryland Apostille Changes Coming October 1, 2026: Appointment-Only Service, 10-Document Limit and Expected Mail-In Transition
Information verified as of September 23, 2026
Maryland's Certification Desk is preparing for significant changes to how customers submit documents for certification and apostille services.
Beginning October 1, 2026, in-person certification and apostille services are expected to move to an appointment-based system, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Maryland Secretary of State has also confirmed a 10-document-per-customer daily limit, with space inside the office limited to two family members.
Additional changes are expected when construction begins at the building, currently anticipated around mid-October. Once construction begins, the Certification Desk is expected to transition to mail-in-only service.
For Maryland notaries, apostille agents, businesses and members of the public handling international documents, these changes make advance preparation increasingly important.
Walk-In Service Continues Through September 30
The appointment-only change is expected to take effect October 1.
Until September 30, customers may continue using the Certification Desk's walk-in service during its current certification hours.
The Maryland Secretary of State currently lists certification hours as 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and confirms a limit of 10 documents per customer per day.
Beginning October 1, customers seeking in-person service should schedule an appointment before traveling to the Secretary of State's office in Annapolis.
Tip: Check the official Maryland Secretary of State website before traveling because service availability and procedures may change as construction approaches.
Appointments Are Scheduled for 10 Minutes
The Secretary of State's online appointment system lists each certification or apostille appointment as a short appointment.
The state fee for certifications and apostilles is currently $5 per document. For in-person service, the Secretary of State states that payment may be made by credit or debit card.
Customers scheduling an appointment should have their documents properly prepared before arriving.
This is particularly important when dealing with documents that require additional certification before reaching the Secretary of State.
The 10-Document Daily Limit
The Maryland Secretary of State confirms a limit of 10 documents per customer per day.
Customers should not assume that scheduling multiple appointments will allow them to exceed the daily limit.
If you have more than 10 documents, contact the Certification Desk before traveling or mailing the documents:
Certification Desk: 410-974-5521
This limit is especially important for professional apostille agents, businesses and other customers who regularly submit documents on behalf of clients.
Orders containing more than 10 documents may need to be divided across different business days or handled according to additional instructions from the Certification Desk.
Office Access Is Also Limited
The Maryland Secretary of State has stated that space is limited to two family members.
Customers should avoid bringing unnecessary guests to an appointment.
Anyone who requires an interpreter, caregiver, legal representative or other support person may wish to contact the Certification Desk before traveling to confirm how the occupancy restriction will apply to their situation.
Construction May Mean Mail-In-Only Service
One of the most important upcoming changes is connected to construction at the building housing the Certification Desk.
The Maryland Secretary of State currently states that walk-in and scheduled appointments are subject to change due to construction possibly beginning around mid-October. The agency also states that, once construction begins, the office will move to mail-in-only service.
That means customers should be prepared for a period when in-person submission is no longer available.
What Could This Mean for Processing Times?
A transition to mail-in-only service could place additional demand on the mailing process because customers who previously relied on in-person service would need to submit their documents by mail.
On September 23, 2026, John Nelson spoke with a Certification Desk clerk who advised that the office was processing mail received from approximately the end of August through the first week of September. This indicated that mailed submissions were already experiencing a significant backlog while walk-in service remained available.
That conversation suggested that mailed submissions were already experiencing a significant delay while walk-in service remained available.
This observation was not an official published processing-time announcement, so customers should contact the Certification Desk directly for the most current information.
The Secretary of State has not published a definite construction start date, a specific duration for mail-in-only service, or details regarding any additional processing procedures that may be implemented.
Customers handling time-sensitive international matters should allow additional time for:
Delivery of the submission to the Secretary of State
Placement of the submission into the processing queue
Review and issuance of the apostille or certification
Return delivery of the completed documents
The Maryland Secretary of State currently provides different processing estimates depending on the delivery method, but also advises customers to check the website or call for current availability and information.
Preparing for a Maryland Apostille Appointment
If you plan to use in-person service, consider preparing the following before traveling to Annapolis:
Before Your Appointment
Schedule your appointment through the Maryland Secretary of State's official appointment system.
Review your documents before arriving.
Limit your submission to 10 documents per customer per day.
Confirm whether your documents require circuit court certification before being presented to the Secretary of State.
Bring a credit or debit card for the $5-per-document state fee when using in-person service.
Limit additional guests because office space is restricted.
Check for construction and service updates before traveling.
Maryland Notarized Documents May Require Circuit Court Certification First
One important step is often overlooked.
Maryland-notarized documents generally must first be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the notary was commissioned before being submitted to the Maryland Secretary of State.
The Maryland Secretary of State specifically explains that a notarized document must be taken to the appropriate Circuit Court for certification before proceeding to the Secretary of State for certification or apostille.
The process can be different for state- or county-issued documents.
For example, state and county documents such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records and other government-issued records may follow a different certification process.
When in doubt, contact the appropriate office before traveling.
Preparing a Mail-In Apostille Submission
Once the Certification Desk moves to mail-in-only service, customers will need to follow the Secretary of State's mailing procedures.
The state's mailing checklist indicates that a submission should include the required documents, payment, information identifying the country where the documents will be used, contact information and prepaid return delivery.
Your Mail-In Submission Should Generally Include:
The documents requiring certification or apostille
A check or money order for the required fees
The country where the documents will be used
Your daytime telephone number or email address
The Maryland Secretary of State mailing checklist
A stamped, self-addressed envelope or prepaid return-delivery service
The official checklist currently identifies the state fee as $5 per document and requests a postage-paid return envelope or prepaid expedited return service such as FedEx or UPS.
Use Trackable Mailing Whenever Possible
Customers mailing original documents should consider using trackable delivery for both the outgoing submission and return delivery.
Before mailing original documents, review the Secretary of State's current mailing checklist to make sure all required certifications, payment, destination-country information and return-delivery materials are included.
A missing item can result in additional correspondence and processing delays.
A Major Operational Change for Maryland Apostille Customers
The expected transition to appointment-based in-person service and the possible move to mail-in-only processing during construction represent important operational changes for Maryland notaries, apostille agents, businesses and members of the public.
Anyone handling international documents should plan ahead and consider:
The 10-document daily limit
Appointment availability
Circuit court certification requirements
Secretary of State processing times
Possible mail-in delays
Delivery time to Annapolis
Return delivery time
Additional federal authentication requirements, when applicable
Embassy or consular requirements for the destination country
The Maryland Secretary of State also notes that documents for Hague Convention countries generally receive an apostille, while documents for non-Hague countries follow a different authentication process that may involve the U.S. Department of State.
Requirements can vary depending on the document and destination country, so customers should verify the complete authentication chain before beginning the process.
Maryland Notaries in Action Will Continue Monitoring These Changes
The Maryland apostille and certification process is changing, and additional updates may occur as construction approaches.
Maryland Notaries in Action will continue monitoring developments affecting Maryland notaries, apostille professionals, businesses and the communities they serve.
For time-sensitive submissions, contact the Maryland Secretary of State Certification Desk directly for the latest instructions:
Maryland Secretary of State Certification Desk
📞 410-974-5521
📍 16 Francis Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
🕘 Certification hours: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Official Resources
Maryland Secretary of State
Certifications and Authentication
Maryland Secretary of State Certifications and Authentication
Maryland Certification Desk Mailing Checklist
Certification Desk Mailing Checklist
Certification Desk
Phone: 410-974-5521
