Guide
How to Get Certified Copies of SEC Filings
How to request certified copies of SEC filings for foreign securities and corporate transactions — why EDGAR downloads don't work and how to specify the documents.
Quick answer
Request certified copies from the SEC’s records office, naming each filing and date the foreign regulator specified. Fees apply per document. An EDGAR download — even of an official filing — isn’t a certified copy and can’t be apostilled.
On this page
Step by step
Get the exact list
Ask the foreign regulator or counterparty which filings, and which dates.
Request certified copies from the SEC
Specify form type, filer and filing date for each document.
Allow time
Build the request and the apostille into your closing timetable.
Corporate files usually mix routes
SEC filings and IRS EIN letters are federal; articles of incorporation and good-standing certificates are state documents with their own route.
When you’ll need it abroad
- Foreign securities registration
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
- Foreign exchange listings
- Due diligence for overseas counterparties
Troubleshooting
The regulator wants a certificate of good standing
That's a state document from where the company was formed.
The filing is very old
Older filings may take longer to retrieve.
You need many filings
Batch the request and the authentication.
The deadline is tight
Start early — certification and apostille both take time.
Next: getting it apostilled
Once you have the document, it needs authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. See how to apostille it. Our price is $299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apostille an EDGAR download?
No. You need certified copies from the SEC.
Are articles of incorporation federal?
No — they're state documents.
Are SEC filings public?
Yes, but a public copy isn't a certified copy.
Does the SEC charge for certification?
Yes — fees apply per document.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.