Florida Apostille

Florida apostilles are issued by the Apostille Section of the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, in Tallahassee. It is the only office in Florida that can issue one. An apostille certifies the signature and seal of the official who signed your document, so a foreign government will accept it.

Which Florida documents can be apostilled

• Birth, death and marriage certificates signed by the State Registrar, ordered from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville

• Court records certified by a county Clerk of Circuit Court, including divorce judgments and marriage licenses

• Documents correctly notarized in English by a Florida notary, such as powers of attorney and affidavits

• Transcripts from Florida public schools and universities, when the registrar's signature was notarized at issuance

• Florida vehicle titles certified by the Department of Motor Vehicles

• Corporate records and Certificates of Status from the Division of Corporations

What gets Florida documents rejected

• Vital records from a county health department. This is the most common Florida mistake. Florida only apostilles certificates signed by the State Registrar, so a copy from your local health department will be refused. Order from the Bureau of Vital Statistics instead.

• Photocopies. Florida will not apostille a copy of an original unless a Florida notary has certified it as a true copy.

• Transcripts you printed and had notarized yourself. The school's registrar has to sign it and have that signature notarized.

• Federal documents. FBI background checks and other federal records go to the US Department of State, not Tallahassee. See our FBI background check apostille page.

How it works with us

1. Send us your document, or tell us what you have and we'll tell you what to order.

2. We confirm it carries the right signature before filing.

3. We file with the Florida Department of State. Florida asks for at least five business days and has no expedited option, so we give you a realistic date when you order.

4. We return it by FedEx Priority, shipping included, anywhere in the world. You pay after the apostille is complete.

Florida apostille FAQ

Can I use the birth certificate from my county health department?

Usually not. Florida requires the State Registrar's signature, which comes from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Can Florida apostille my FBI background check?

No. FBI checks are federal documents and are apostilled by the US Department of State.

My country isn't in the Hague Convention. What then?

You need authentication and embassy legalization instead. See our embassy legalization page.