Apostille for International Birth Certificates

Birth certificates are the most commonly apostilled document in the world. Whether you need to apostille a US birth certificate for use in a foreign country, or authenticate a foreign birth certificate for use in the US, this guide covers the complete process.

Apostilling a US Birth Certificate for Use Abroad

A US birth certificate must be a certified copy issued by the state vital records office — not a hospital-issued copy. The apostille is issued by the Secretary of State of the state where the birth occurred.

• Florida birth certificate: apostilled by the Florida Secretary of State
• Birth certificate from another state: apostilled by that state's Secretary of State — Miami Dade Apostille coordinates out-of-state apostilles through our agent network

Common reasons for apostilling a US birth certificate include: foreign residency applications, citizenship applications, school enrollment abroad, dual nationality applications, and marriage abroad.

Obtaining a Certified Copy of a Florida Birth Certificate

If you do not have a certified copy of your Florida birth certificate, Miami Dade Apostille can obtain one on your behalf from the Florida Department of Health. This is a common add-on service for clients who need both the certified copy and the apostille.

Foreign Birth Certificates for Use in the US

Foreign birth certificates presented to US institutions — USCIS, courts, schools, employers — typically require a certified translation into English. The apostille on the foreign document certifies its authenticity in the country of origin; the certified translation makes it readable to US institutions.

Miami Dade Apostille coordinates certified translation of foreign birth certificates into English for all major languages.

Multi-Generational Birth Certificates

Citizenship-by-descent applications often require apostilled birth certificates going back multiple generations — grandparents, great-grandparents. Miami Dade Apostille has experience coordinating multi-generational document packages for citizenship applications in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, and other countries.