Can I apostille a photocopy or scanned document?
No — not as a plain copy. Nevada will not issue an apostille on a basic photocopy or ordinary scan printout; the document must be a notarized original or a certified copy from the correct agency.
In practice, that means a PDF on your phone or a photocopy from your home printer has to be turned into a valid Nevada original before the Nevada Secretary of State will attach an apostille.
When a photocopy can still work
A photocopy or printout can be part of an acceptable apostille packet if it is first turned into a notarized document or certified record under Nevada rules. The state needs to verify the Nevada notary, registrar, or official who signed what they see, not just confirm that it looks like your scan.
- Notarized copy certifications, where a Nevada notary certifies that a copy of a passport, ID, or diploma is a true copy of the original, creating a notarized document that can be apostilled as a notarized original.
- School records printed from a student system, then signed and notarized by a registrar or authorized officer before they are sent to the Nevada Secretary of State.
- Business documents that start as PDFs, are printed, signed in wet ink, and then notarized correctly, so the state is authenticating the notary’s certificate rather than the file format.
Why Nevada insists on “real” originals
An apostille does not prove the content is true; it proves that the Nevada official who signed or notarized the paper is genuine and properly commissioned. That only works when the paper submitted is a notarized original or certified copy from a recognized Nevada office, not a generic photocopy or printout of a scan.
Photocopies that usually get rejected
Some copy-based documents are almost always rejected when submitted “as is,” even if they look official. These usually need to be replaced with proper certified copies or recreated as fresh notarized originals.
- Hospital birth worksheets or souvenir certificates instead of Nevada Vital Records or county-certified birth, marriage, or death certificates.
- Printed or scanned copies of court orders and decrees instead of certified copies with a court seal and clerk signature.
- Out-of-state documents copied and notarized in Nevada when they should be authenticated by the state where they were originally issued.
How to fix a scan or photocopy problem
If all you have is a scan or photocopy, the solution is usually to recreate an eligible Nevada original instead of trying to force the copy through the apostille system.
- Identify whether the item is a notarized legal document, vital record, court order, business record, or educational record, because each follows different “original vs. certified copy” rules.
- Request certified copies from the issuing agency for vital records and court documents, or sign new wet‑ink originals and have them notarized properly for powers of attorney, affidavits, and many business documents.
- Rebuild the apostille packet with the correct version and an accurate Nevada apostille order form so the Secretary of State can accept and process your request.
How Lake Mead Mobile Notary helps
Lake Mead Mobile Notary works with clients who often start with emailed PDFs or phone scans and need them turned into Nevada-ready paper quickly.
- Reviewing your situation and confirming whether you need a notarized original, a Nevada-certified copy, or a school or court reissue before apostille is possible.
- Providing mobile notarization across Las Vegas, Henderson, and Downtown Las Vegas, then coordinating apostille submission so you do not lose weeks to preventable rejections.
Need to turn a scan into an apostille‑ready document?
Tell Lake Mead Mobile Notary that you currently have only a photocopy or scan, and you will get a clear plan to obtain the correct Nevada original or certified copy and submit it for apostille without repeat mailings.
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