A birth certificate is one of the most commonly apostilled documents in the United States. People need one for dual citizenship applications, marriage abroad, foreign school enrollment, residency and visa applications, and to prove parentage in another country.
Because a birth certificate is a government-issued vital record, it does not need to be notarized first. It goes straight to the Secretary of State of the state that issued it. That last part matters: an apostille can only be issued by the state where the record originated, so a certificate from Texas has to go to Texas regardless of where you live now.
One requirement catches people out. Most states will only apostille a certified copy issued by the state or county vital records office, not the hospital souvenir certificate with footprints, and not a photocopy. The certified copy usually needs to be recent, and some states require the registrar’s signature to be current.
If you do not have a usable certified copy, we can retrieve one for you as part of the order. If you are not sure whether the copy you have will be accepted, send it through our free review and we will check before you pay.
At a glance
Which copy you have, and whether it will be accepted
| Copy type | Accepted? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy, state vital records | Yes | Carries the registrar’s signature and seal |
| Certified copy, county recorder | Usually | Depends on the state, we check first |
| Hospital certificate with footprints | No | A keepsake, not a government record |
| Photocopy or scan | No | No original signature or seal to certify |
| Informational copy | No | Marked as not valid for identity purposes |
| Heirloom or commemorative copy | No | Decorative, issued alongside the real record |
If you are not certain which you have, send it through the free review before paying for anything. This is the single most common reason a birth certificate order stalls.
Things that differ by state
- How recent the copy must be. Some states apostille any certified copy; others want one issued within the last six or twelve months.
- Whose signature is on it. A few states require the current registrar’s signature, so an older copy fails even though it is genuinely certified.
- County versus state issuance. Some states apostille county-issued copies, others insist the copy come from the state office.
- New York City is separate from New York State. City birth records come from NYC Health, not the state, and a request to the wrong one is refused. See our New York City page.
- Amended and delayed certificates sometimes need supporting paperwork, particularly for adoption or a corrected record.
- Names must match your other documents. A mismatch between the certificate and a passport or marriage record is a common reason a consulate rejects an otherwise perfect file.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the certified copy
Mail it in, drop it at one of our offices, or have us retrieve a fresh certified copy from the issuing state.
Step 2
We verify it will be accepted
We check the copy is certified, current, and correctly signed before it goes anywhere, so it is not rejected at the state.
Step 3
Secretary of State apostille
We submit to the correct state office and pay the state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, available for pickup, or scanned and emailed the moment it is done.
Birth Certificate Apostille: common questions
Can you apostille a hospital birth certificate?
No. Hospital certificates, including the decorative ones with footprints, are not government-issued vital records and states will not apostille them. You need a certified copy from the state or county vital records office. We can order one for you if you do not have one.
Does my birth certificate need to be notarized first?
No. Birth certificates are government-issued vital records, so they are ready for apostille as-is. Notarization is only needed for private documents you signed yourself, such as a power of attorney or affidavit.
How recent does the certified copy need to be?
It varies by state. Some accept any certified copy, others want one issued within the last six or twelve months, and some require the current registrar’s signature. We check this for your specific state before submitting.
I was born in one state but live in another. Where does it go?
It has to go to the state that issued the certificate, not the state you live in. We handle submissions to all fifty states and Washington, D.C., so you do not need to travel or find a local service.
Do I need a translation as well?
Some countries require the apostilled certificate to be translated by a certified translator. We offer certified and sworn translation and can add it to the same order.
How fast can this be done?
Standard processing is typically four to seven business days once we have the document. Rush and same-day options are available in some states. See current pricing and turnaround times.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records · U.S. Dept. of State, apostille requirements
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