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Documents & apostilles
Apostille Help for Florida Documents
In short: An apostille is the certificate that makes a Florida public document valid in the 120+ countries of the Hague Apostille Convention. The Florida Department of State issues it for Florida documents for $10 each, or $20 when the document was certified by a county clerk. We prepare, notarize when needed, and submit the request for you.
Step 1
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate attached by the state that issued a public document, confirming that the signature and seal on it are genuine so that another Hague Convention country accepts it without further legalization.
Southwest Florida families ask for apostilles all the time: a birth certificate for a child's citizenship abroad, a marriage certificate for a spouse's visa, a diploma for a job in another country, or a power of attorney so a relative can sell property back home. Without the apostille, those documents are usually rejected.
The most common mistake is sending the wrong version. Florida only apostilles Florida documents: a certified copy issued by the Florida Department of Health or a county clerk, or a document notarized by a Florida notary. A Texas birth certificate goes to Texas; an FBI background check or a US passport copy goes to the US Department of State. We check this before anything is mailed.
- Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates issued in Florida
- Powers of attorney, affidavits and consent letters notarized in Florida
- School transcripts and diplomas, notarized by the school's official
- Corporate documents from the Florida Division of Corporations
- Countries outside the Hague Convention: certificate of authentication instead
Step 2
What documents do I need for an apostille?
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The original certified copy
Vital records must be recent certified copies from the Florida Department of Health or the county clerk, not photocopies.
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For private documents, an unsigned original
We notarize your signature first; the notarization is what the state certifies.
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The destination country
It decides whether you need an apostille or an authentication, and whether a translation is needed after.
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Your ID
For the notarization step and to match the request form.
Step 3
How much does an apostille cost in Florida?
| What | Fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Department of State apostille | $10 per document | Official state fee |
| Document certified by a Florida county clerk | $20 per document | Official state fee |
| Notarization, if the document needs one first | Up to $10 per signature | § 117.05(2)(a) |
| Preparation, submission and shipping | Quoted before booking | Depends on the number of documents and shipping speed |
The Department of State accepts payment by check or money order only. We tell you exactly what goes to the state and what is our service fee.
Fees and statutes last reviewed:
Want the exact quote for your address and documents?
Book on WhatsAppStep 4
How does the apostille process work?
- 1
Check the document
We confirm it is a Florida document, the right type of copy, and whether the country needs an apostille or an authentication.
- 2
Notarize if needed
Private documents are signed and notarized first, at your home or online.
- 3
Prepare the request
We complete the Department of State request form and the fee payment.
- 4
Submit to Tallahassee
The request goes to the Florida Department of State with prepaid return shipping.
- 5
Receive and, if needed, translate
The apostilled document comes back to you. If the destination needs it in Spanish or English, we translate it.
Often booked together with Certified Translation, Power of Attorney Notarization, and Travel Consent Letters.
Most requested in Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral, and available online anywhere.
Step 5
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an apostille on a Florida birth certificate?
You need a certified copy issued by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, or a county health department, signed by an official the Department of State has on file. Older copies or hospital certificates are often rejected. We check your copy, order a new one if needed, and submit it with the request form and the $10 state fee.
Can you apostille a document from another state?
No. Only the state that issued the document can apostille it, so a New York birth certificate goes to the New York Department of State. Federal documents, such as FBI background checks or documents signed by federal officials, are apostilled by the US Department of State in Washington. We can still help you prepare and ship those requests.
Which countries need an apostille and which need authentication?
Countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention, including Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Spain and most of Europe, accept the apostille. Countries outside the Convention need a certificate of authentication from Florida and, usually, legalization at that country's consulate. Tell us the destination and we will confirm which path applies.
Does my document need to be translated before or after the apostille?
Usually after. The apostille certifies the original Florida document, and many countries then ask for an official translation of both the document and the apostille. Some countries require the translation to be done there. Check with the receiving office; if a translation in Florida is acceptable, we provide a certified Spanish or English translation.
Can I apostille a photocopy of my passport?
A photocopy alone cannot be apostilled. You can sign a sworn statement in front of a Florida notary declaring the copy true and correct, and the notarized statement can then be apostilled by Florida. Whether the foreign office accepts that format is their decision, so confirm with them first.
Step 6
What does Florida law say about apostilles?
- Apostilles and notarial certifications: requirements, fees, mail-in and walk-in service. Florida Department of State
- Fees for apostilles and notarial certifications. § 118.12, Florida Statutes
Related services
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Certified Translation
View service → -
Power of Attorney Notarization
View service → -
Travel Consent Letters
View service →
Related guides
- Travel
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Apostille How to Get an Apostille in Florida
Which documents Florida can apostille, the $10 state fee, how to submit and how long it takes, explained by a Cape Coral notary.
Step 7
Sending a Florida document abroad?
Tell us the document and the country. We confirm whether it can be apostilled and what it will cost before anything is mailed.