Apostille for Florida Documents: A Complete Guide

Florida is one of the most active states for apostille requests in the US — driven by a large international community, significant immigration activity, and a high volume of international business. This guide covers every major Florida document type and how to get it apostilled correctly.

Who Issues Apostilles on Florida Documents?

The Florida Secretary of State (Tallahassee) is the sole authority for apostilling Florida-issued documents. There is no apostille office in Miami-Dade County. Miami Dade Apostille submits documents to Tallahassee on your behalf — you never need to travel.

Florida Vital Records

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates must be certified copies issued by the Florida Department of Health — not photocopies or hospital-issued copies. Miami Dade Apostille can obtain certified copies on your behalf if needed.

• Birth certificate: Most commonly needed for foreign residency, citizenship, school enrollment, and dual nationality applications
• Marriage certificate: Required for spousal visa applications, name changes abroad, and family proceedings
• Death certificate: Required for estate proceedings, pension claims, and insurance matters in foreign countries

Florida Court Records

Divorce decrees, court orders, judgments, and other Florida state court records can be apostilled by the Florida Secretary of State. The document must be a certified copy from the clerk of the issuing court — not a photocopy.

Notarized Documents

Documents notarized by a Florida notary public — powers of attorney, affidavits, diplomas, corporate resolutions, consent letters — can be apostilled by the Florida Secretary of State. The apostille certifies the notary's signature and commission, not the document's content.

Miami Dade Apostille provides Florida notary services, including remote online notarization (RON) for clients who cannot appear in person. Learn about RON.

Florida Corporate Documents

Certificates of good standing, articles of incorporation, and other documents issued by the Florida Division of Corporations can be apostilled by the Florida Secretary of State. These are commonly needed for international business transactions, foreign bank account openings, and corporate registrations abroad.

Processing Times

• Standard: 3–5 business days
• Expedited: Same day or next day available
• Emergency: 24-hour service by request — call 1-800-631-9171