Florida Apostille Guide 2026: Requirements, Fees and Timeline

A Florida document may be legally valid in the United States, but that does not mean it will automatically be accepted by a foreign government, embassy, or international institution. Documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, diplomas, powers of attorney, and business records often require a Florida apostille before they can be used overseas.

The Florida apostille process has specific requirements that can cause delays if handled incorrectly. The type of certified document you submit, the issuing authority, the request form, payment method, and submission process all determine whether your application is accepted or returned. Understanding these requirements before sending your documents can help avoid unnecessary delays.

This complete Florida apostille guide explains everything you need to know - including eligible documents, certification requirements, fees, processing times, mail and in-person submission options, and common mistakes to avoid. If you prefer not to manage the process yourself, Globeia helps individuals and businesses complete Florida apostille requests remotely with document review, submission assistance, and delivery support.

An apostille is a standardized certificate that authenticates a Florida document for use in another country. It confirms that the signature, seal, or stamp on the document belongs to a person with the legal authority to issue it. The apostille does not verify the content of the document - only the credentials of the person who signed it.

A Florida apostille is accepted in over 129 countries that have joined the Hague Apostille Convention, eliminating the need for embassy legalization. The Convention came into force in 1965 and was designed to replace a multi-step authentication chain with a single certificate. For documents originating in Florida, the apostille is that certificate, and Florida Secretary of State is the sole authority responsible for issuing apostilles under the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations.

A Florida apostille verifies that a document issued or notarized in Florida is authentic so it can be legally recognized in another country. Without an apostille, foreign authorities cannot verify the signature, seal, or official who issued the document, which may result in delays or rejection.

What Does a Florida Apostille Do?

A Florida apostille helps ensure your document is accepted internationally by:

• Verifying the authenticity of the signature, seal, or public official on a Florida-issued document.
• Meeting the legal document authentication requirements of Hague Apostille Convention countries.
• Replacing the longer embassy legalization process for countries that accept apostilles.
• Supporting international applications for immigration, education, employment, marriage, business, and legal matters.
• Reducing the risk of delays or rejection caused by improperly authenticated documents.

Important: A Florida apostille is only valid for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. If your destination country is not a member, your documents will usually require embassy or consular legalization instead of an apostille.

Not every Florida document is eligible, and the issuing source matters as much as the document type. The Florida Department of State will only apostille documents signed by officials it can verify - state-issued certified copies, Florida notaries, and specific county-level clerks. A document issued by the wrong office is rejected regardless of how the rest of the application is prepared.

Birth Certificates

Florida birth certificates must be certified copies issued by the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or a County Health Department, provided they are signed by the State Registrar. The Florida Department of State verifies the State Registrar's signature before issuing an apostille.

For a complete step-by-step guide on obtaining and apostilling a Florida birth certificate, read our Florida Birth Certificate Apostille Guide.

Death Certificates

Death certificates must be ordered from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or a County Health Department. The document must carry the State Registrar's signature.

Marriage Certificates

Marriage certificates are accepted from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Clerk of the County Courts. 

Divorce Certificates

Also known as dissolution of marriage documents, these must be from an official Florida agency.

School Transcripts & Diplomas

Whether you’re dealing with public or private schools, these transcripts and diplomas must be notarized and include a thorough notarial statement in English.

Notarized Documents

This includes powers of attorney, affidavits, and personal letters. Just ensure that the notarization follows Florida’s guidelines.

Vehicle Titles

These need to be certified by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Business Documents

This includes Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Status and other certified business records from the Florida Secretary of State.

What Florida Cannot Apostille

Federal documents: FBI background checks, US passport records, federal court documents, and any record issued by a federal agency cannot be apostilled by the Florida Department of State. These documents are authenticated by the US Department of State in Washington, DC. Submitting a federal document to Florida will result in the application being returned without processing.

Out-of-state documents: A document issued in Georgia, New York, or any other state must be apostilled by that state's competent authority. Florida cannot apostille documents it did not issue.

Submit all of the following with every Florida apostille application. A missing item returns the entire submission - the Florida Department of State does not contact applicants to request missing materials.

• First, your document must be issued in Florida or notarized by a Florida notary.
• Make sure you send the original document or a certified copy, with no photocopies unless specifically allowed.
• It should include a complete notarial statement in English if it's notarized.
• Don’t forget to attach the filled-out Apostille Request Form from the Florida Department of State.
• Also, be sure to include payment by check or money order drawn from a US bank, payable to the Florida Department of State.
• Add a self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid return for easy return.
• Check that all names, signatures, and seals are clear and accurate.
• Double-check everything before you mail it off to avoid any delays.

Once your request is approved, your document will receive the official Florida apostille stamp.

Managing this from outside Florida or working against a fixed deadline? Globeia's Florida apostille service reviews your documents before anything is submitted, prepares the cover letter, and manages in-person delivery to the Apostille Section in Tallahassee so a single missing detail does not cost you weeks. 

Also check out Globeia’s blog: Document Preparation Tips for Florida Apostille!

Florida accepts apostille applications through three submission methods: walk-in at the Tallahassee office, mail-in, or submission through a professional apostille service. Processing times and practical requirements differ significantly between them.

1. Walk-In

The Florida Department of State Apostille Section is located at 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. No appointment is needed. Processing begins the day the submission is received, with a minimum turnaround of 5 business days. There is no same-day or expedited option, even for in-person submissions. Documents are processed in the order received.

For more details about submitting documents directly to the state office, see our Tallahassee Florida apostille guide.

2. Mail-In Submission

The other option is using the mail service. It is best for applicants who are not in Tallahassee or do not want to travel. For this, you need to fill out the official apostille request form, include the original certified or properly notarized document, a cover letter specifying the destination country, and a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your payment.

Mail this envelope to:

Florida Department of State

For FedEx, UPS, or DHL:

2415 N. Monroe Street, 

Courier services such as FedEx or UPS require the physical street address above, as packages cannot be delivered to a P.O. Box.

3. Professional Apostille Service

The other option is using a professional apostille service. These services handle the whole process on your behalf with the Florida Department of State, submitting documents in person at the Apostille Section to avoid the standard mail-in processing queue. This is particularly helpful for people living abroad or anyone who doesn't want to deal with the hassle of paperwork. Select a reliable service that understands Florida's apostille requirements to ensure everything goes smoothly.

The Florida Department of State charges $10 per apostille for vital records - birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates signed by the State Registrar. Documents certified by a Clerk of the Court cost $20 when an apostille and Certificate of Incumbency are requested at the same time. These fees are paid separately from any other fees in the same submission; combined payments are returned.

Beyond the state apostille fee, applicants pay separately for: the certified copy from the issuing office (e.g., $9 per birth certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics), county clerk certification where required, notarization for personal or business documents, and return shipping. Budget for all of these before submitting.

All payments to the Florida Department of State must be by check or money order drawn from a US bank. Credit cards and cash are not accepted. Verify current fees at dos.fl.gov before submitting. For a full breakdown of every cost involved, read our Florida apostille cost guide.

If you use a professional service, their fee covers document review, preparation, and submission on your behalf, separate from all state fees above.

Processing time is determined by submission method, not by the type of document.

Globeia's Florida apostille service handles in-person submission on your behalf so your documents are processed without the standard mail delay, serving clients across Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami.

A Florida apostille is a one-page certificate affixed to the front page of your original document. The apostille lists essential information like:

• The issuing country (United States of America)
• The name and title of the person who signed the original document;
• The official seal of the State of Florida.
• A distinct apostille number and the date of issuance;

A certified apostille is commonly stapled to the front page of your document and used as official evidence of authentication to make your document legally effective in foreign countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Most Florida apostille delays are not caused by the document itself. They are caused by preparation errors that could have been caught before anything was mailed.

• Wrong certified copy source: Birth and death certificates must come from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. County health department copies are not accepted under any circumstances, even if the document appears identical.
• Incorrect payment method: The Florida Department of State accepts checks and money orders drawn from a US bank only. Cash, credit cards, and international money orders are not accepted. The check must be made payable to the Florida Department of State - not to the Division of Corporations or any other entity.
• Stapled or bound documents submitted incorrectly: The Florida Department of State requires that multi-page documents be stapled together before submission. Loose pages, paper clips, or binding other than staples may cause the application to be returned or documents to be separated during processing.
• No cover letter: A cover letter naming the destination country is required with every submission. Missing it means the application comes back regardless of everything else being correct.
• Combined fee payments: Corporate certification and apostille fees must always be paid separately. One combined payment causes the entire submission to be returned.
• Photocopies submitted instead of originals: Even notarized photocopies are not accepted. Only originals or certified copies with intact signatures and seals are valid.

Most Florida apostille delays happen because of preparation mistakes - using the wrong certified document, missing required information, or submitting an incorrect payment. Any of these issues can result in your application being returned and add weeks to an already lengthy process.

Understanding Florida's specific apostille requirements before submitting your documents can help you avoid unnecessary delays and complete the process correctly the first time.

If you prefer not to manage the submission yourself, Globeia helps simplify the Florida apostille process by reviewing your documents, preparing the required paperwork, submitting applications in person at the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee, and coordinating delivery back to you.

Start Your Florida Apostille with Globeia!