Apostille Turnaround Times: What to Expect
One of the most common questions we receive is: how long will my apostille take? The honest answer depends on three factors: the document type, the issuing authority, and the service level you choose. This guide gives you realistic timelines for every scenario.
Florida Documents — Florida Secretary of State
The Florida Secretary of State processes apostilles on all Florida-issued documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, notarized documents, corporate documents, and state court records.
- Standard: 3–5 business days from submission
- Expedited: Same day or next business day (available through Miami Dade Apostille)
- Emergency: 24-hour service available by request — call 1-800-631-9171
Federal Documents — US Department of State
The US Department of State apostilles federal documents: FBI background checks, federal court records, naturalization certificates, and documents issued by federal agencies.
- By mail: 6–8 weeks
- In person (Washington, DC): 1–5 business days
Miami Dade Apostille coordinates in-person federal submissions for clients with urgent timelines. Contact us to discuss options.
Obtaining Certified Copies First
If you do not already have a certified copy of your document, obtaining one adds time before the apostille process begins:
- Florida vital records (birth, marriage, death): 3–10 business days by mail; same-day in person at a Florida Department of Health office
- Florida court records: 1–5 business days depending on the court
- FBI background check: 3–5 business days (Identity History Summary — electronic submission)
Translation
If a certified translation is required for your destination country, Miami Dade Apostille coordinates translation concurrently with the apostille process in most cases, adding minimal additional time. Standard translation turnaround is 1–2 business days for most documents.
Total Timeline Examples
- Florida birth certificate → Spain: 3–5 days (apostille) + 1–2 days (translation) = 4–7 business days total
- FBI background check → Italy: 3–5 days (FBI) + 1–5 days (US Dept of State in person) + 1–2 days (translation) = 5–12 business days total
- Notarized diploma → Germany: 1 day (notarization) + 3–5 days (apostille) + 1–2 days (translation) = 5–8 business days total
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