Are you sending a Florida document to another country? Then you may need a Florida apostille. An apostille is a certificate that confirms a public document is genuine, so other countries accept it. In this guide, we explain which documents qualify, how the process works and how translations fit in.
What is a Florida apostille?
An apostille is a form of authentication created by the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. In Florida, the Department of State attaches it to documents issued or notarized in the state. As a result, countries that belong to the convention accept the document without more steps.
However, some countries are not members. For those countries, Florida issues a different certificate, and the embassy may need to add its own step.
Which documents can get a Florida apostille?
In general, the document must come from a Florida official or carry a Florida notary seal. For example:
- Florida birth, marriage and death certificates issued by the state.
- Certified court records from a Florida clerk of court.
- Florida corporate documents.
- Documents signed in front of a Florida notary public, such as affidavits and powers of attorney.
- Notarized translations with a signed certificate of accuracy.
How to get a Florida apostille, step by step
- First, get the right copy. Order a certified copy from the issuing office, or have the document notarized in Florida.
- Next, check the destination country. Confirm whether it is a Hague Convention member.
- Then, prepare the request. Fill in the request form from the Florida Department of State.
- After that, pay the state fee. The fee is charged per document.
- Finally, send or deliver it. The state returns the document with the apostille attached.
For the latest forms, fees and mailing address, visit the Florida Department of State website.
Florida apostille and translations
Many countries also want your document in their language. In that case, you usually need a translation too. For instance, a Florida birth certificate going to Brazil may need a Portuguese translation.
Here is the key point: an apostille only covers a public document or a notary seal. Therefore, if the translation itself must be accepted abroad, it often needs to be notarized first. Our notarized translation services in Florida are made for this purpose.
Which comes first, the apostille or the translation?
It depends on the receiving country. Some want the apostille on the original first, and then a translation of both. Others want the translation notarized and apostilled too. So, always ask the receiving office before you start.
Foreign documents coming to Florida
The process also works in reverse. For example, a document from Colombia may arrive with a Colombian apostille in Spanish. In this case, US offices need an English translation of both the document and the apostille. Our Spanish to English certified translation covers every stamp, seal and apostille on the page.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a Florida apostille?
The Florida Department of State issues apostilles for documents issued or notarized in Florida.
Can a translation get a Florida apostille?
In many cases, yes. For example, a translation with a notarized certificate of accuracy can be sent for an apostille. However, always check what the receiving country accepts.
Do I need an apostille for USCIS?
No. USCIS does not ask for apostilles on translations. Instead, it asks for a certified English translation.
Does Crown Translate get apostilles?
Please contact us about your apostille needs. Meanwhile, we provide the certified and notarized translations that often go with an apostilled document.
Need a certified or notarized translation?
Certified translation from $20 per page, with a USCIS acceptance guarantee. Or call toll-free +1-800-901-0168.