The Colorado apostille request is the cover form you submit to the Secretary of State along with your prepared document. It asks what the document is, which country it is going to, and how you want it returned. The destination country is the most important field — it determines whether you receive an apostille or an authentication. Fill it out completely, because missing information is the most common reason a request is delayed.
Once your document is prepared, the last thing standing between you and an apostille is a short request form. It is not complicated, but a few of its fields decide how — and how quickly — your request is processed. This guide walks through the form so you can fill it out right the first time.
If you have not prepared your document yet, start with our step-by-step guide to getting an apostille in Colorado or the complete apostille services guide.
What the Request Form Actually Is
The apostille request is a cover sheet, not the document itself. It travels with your notarized document or certified copy and tells the Colorado Secretary of State’s Authentications Division three things: what you are submitting, where in the world it needs to be valid, and how to get it back to you. The office uses it to confirm the document qualifies and to route it correctly.
Because it is paperwork the state relies on to process your request, accuracy matters more than speed. A blank or mismatched field can mean a phone call, a returned packet, or a delay of days.
The Form, Field by Field
1. Your name and contact information
Who is submitting the request and how the office can reach you. Provide a phone number or email you actually monitor — if anything is unclear, this is how they will contact you instead of simply returning the packet.
2. Document description
A short identification of what you are submitting — for example, “notarized power of attorney” or “certified birth certificate.” It should match the document in the envelope.
3. Destination country — the field that matters most
This single field determines what you receive. Name the country where the document will be used. If it is a Hague Apostille Convention member, you get an apostille; if not, you get an authentication for embassy legalization. Leaving this blank is the number-one cause of delay. See apostille vs. authentication for why this distinction matters.
4. Return method and address
How you want the finished document back — picked up, mailed domestically, or shipped internationally. For mailed returns, include prepaid return postage or shipping. For international delivery, provide the full destination address.
5. Your signature
Sign and date the request to authorize processing. An unsigned form cannot be processed.
“Each request must identify the country in which the document will be used so the correct certificate can be issued.”
Form Mistakes That Cause Delays
| Mistake | Why it delays you | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No destination country | Office can’t issue the right certificate | Always name the country |
| Description doesn’t match document | Triggers a verification hold | Describe exactly what’s enclosed |
| No return postage | Document can’t be sent back | Include prepaid return shipping |
| Unsigned form | Can’t be processed at all | Sign and date before sending |
How to Submit the Form
Submit the completed request together with your prepared document to the Colorado Secretary of State in Denver — in person or by mail. In person is faster and lets you correct any issue on the spot. By mail, use trackable shipping and include everything the form references, especially return postage.
Let MJ Notary Denver Complete the Form for You
If you would rather not navigate the form yourself, MJ Notary Denver completes the apostille request, confirms the destination routing, and submits everything in person to the Secretary of State in Denver — so there are no blank fields, no mismatches, and no avoidable delays. As a Colorado notary and member of the National Notary Association, we handle the paperwork from start to finish.
We serve Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, and Commerce City, and coordinate statewide. Contact MJ Notary Denver or call (720) 333-0580.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get the Colorado apostille request form?
The request is available from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Authentications Division. MJ Notary Denver can also provide and complete it for you as part of full-service apostille handling, so you do not have to source it yourself.
What is the most important field on the form?
The destination country. It determines whether the Secretary of State issues an apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or an authentication (for non-Hague countries). Leaving it blank is the most common reason a request is delayed.
Do I submit the form before or with my document?
With it. The request is a cover form that travels alongside your prepared document — your notarized original or certified copy — in the same submission to the Secretary of State. They are processed together.
Can I submit the apostille request by mail?
Yes. You can mail the completed request and document to the Secretary of State, but include prepaid return postage and use trackable shipping. In-person submission is faster and lets you fix any issue immediately, which is why many people use a notary service that submits for them.
What happens if I fill out the form incorrectly?
Depending on the error, the office may contact you for clarification or return the packet unprocessed — both of which add days or weeks. The most reliable way to avoid this is to have the form completed and submitted by someone who handles apostilles regularly.
Written by
MJ Notary Denver
MJ Notary Denver is a certified Colorado notary public and member of the National Notary Association, providing mobile notary, apostille, online notarization, and loan signing services throughout the Denver metro area since 2019. Commission #20194021878.