Foreign embassies or consulates often require an apostille or notarial certificate for vital record certificates. The 1961 Hague Convention established the apostille as a form of authentication for its member states. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the issuing official’s signature. Countries that are non-members of the 1961 Hague Convention are issued notarial certificates, which also authenticates the issuing official’s signature.
The Florida Department of State is the only designated competent authority to issue apostilles in Florida.
Before ordering, we urge you to contact the nearest consulate or embassy for the country in which you will be using the apostille or notarial certificate to obtain their requirements for the vital record certificate.
Obtaining an apostille or notarial certificate is a 2-step process that involves both the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics and the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations.
Any person who willfully and knowingly provides any false information on a certificate, record or report required by Chapter 382, F.S., or on an application or affidavit, or who obtains confidential information from any vital record under false or fraudulent purposes, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in Chapter 775, F.S.
Order Online with VitalChek
If you wish to expedite this two-step process, you may order online at VitalChek Apostille, our only contracted vendor.
VitalChek will collect your ordering information and credit card payment for both steps of the process. Our office will forward your vital record certificate by UPS to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations for the apostille process.
- Once the process is completed, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations will send you the certificates by UPS.
- VitalChek charges an additional $7 processing fee in addition to both agency fees and two UPS shipping fees.
Order from Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Complete the below application for the record being requested and submit with your valid ID (for confidential records) and payment to obtain a vital record certification from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Please note: Birth and Death with Cause of Death information are confidential and can only be released to eligible applicants.
- After receiving the vital record certificate from the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics, you must forward the certificate to the Florida Department of State for the apostille process.
If Applicant is not an eligible requestor, the application must be accompanied with a notarized Affidavit to Release signed by an eligible requestor, along with a copy of the valid ID of both the person authorizing release and the applicant.
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