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Apostille/Notarial Certificates
Florida Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
Information on Apostille and Notarial Certificates issued by the Florida Department of State
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 nonmembers of the 1961 Hague Convention are issued notarial certificates, which also authenticates the issuing official’s signature. The Florida Secretary of State is the only designated Competent Authority to issue apostilles in the State of Florida.
OBTAINING AN APOSTILLE OR NOTARIAL CERTIFICATE IS A 2-STEP PROCESS THAT INVOLVES BOTH THE FLORIDA BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS AND THE FLORIDA DEPARMTENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS.
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.
- ORDER ONLINE WITH VITALCHEK
If you wish to expedite this two-step process, you may order online at www.vitalchek.com/flastorefront VitalChek is 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 via UPS to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations for the apostille process. Once the process is completed, the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations will send the certificates via UPS to you. Please note, VitalChek charges an additional $7 processing fee in addition to both agency fees and 2 UPS shipping fees.
(Eligibility requirements for birth and death with cause of death are available on the birth and death web pages).
- ORDER FROM FLORIDA BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS
Obtaining an Apostille or Notarial Certificate is a two-step process. After receiving the vital record certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, you must then forward the certificate to the Department of State for the Apostille process. If you wish to expedite this two-step process, you may order online with VitalChek. For more information on how to order online, click on the ORDER ONLINE WITH VITALCHEK option.
- Obtain a certification for the vital record event from the Bureau of Vital Statistics by completing the appropriate application below (Eligibility requirements for birth and death with cause of death are available on the application and on the birth and death web pages).
- Once you receive the vital record certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, you must forward the certificate to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations for the Apostille/ Notarial Certificate.
Please visit their website at www.dos.myflorida.com or contact 850-245-6945 for information regarding their application, requirements, processing time, fees, etc.
Mailing: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Certificate, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Walk in/Courier Delivery: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Certificate, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
Any person who willfully and knowingly provides any false information on a certificate, record or report required by Chapter 382, Florida Statutes, 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, Florida Statutes.
LINKS TO FORMS:
Apostille Birth Application (English)
Apostille Death Application (English)
Apostille Marriage Application
Apostille Single Status Application
Apostille Dissolution Application
Affidavit to Release Birth Certificate
Affidavit to Release Death Certificate with Cause of Death
If you have any questions about obtaining a vital record certificate to be used for the apostille or notarial process, please contact us at 904-359-6900 extension 9006 or e-mail us at: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov.
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