Florida Apostille Services for Documents Used Abroad

An apostille is an official certification issued by the Florida Secretary of State that verifies the authenticity of a public document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. 

 Common documents requiring a Florida apostille include:

• Florida birth certificates
   
• Marriage and death certificates
   
• Power of Attorney documents
   
• School transcripts and diplomas
   
• Corporate and business documents
   
• Divorce decrees and court orders
   
• Affidavits and sworn statements notarized in Florida 
• Florida criminal background checks (FDLE)

If your Florida-issued document will be used in another country, it will likely require an apostille. If your document isn’t listed here, that’s okay. Many other notarized and official documents may also qualify depending on the destination country. The receiving country or agency always makes the final call on acceptance, so confirm their requirements before you order.

The apostille process can be confusing. One small error, like incorrect notarial wording, an expired seal, or a missing detail, can get your document rejected and cost you weeks. Every apostille request is reviewed personally by Lyanne Velazquez, a bilingual notary with over 1,700 notarizations behind her. If an error in her own notarization ever causes a problem, she corrects it at no extra cost. Decisions by the state or the receiving country are outside her control, and she tells you that upfront. Here is what every request includes: 

Pre-Submission Document Review
She checks the notarial wording, seal, commission status, and document eligibility before anything goes to Tallahassee.

Guided Submission Options
You get the right processing path for your deadline: standard courier or rush courier.

Clear, Step-by-Step Instructions
No guesswork. No unclear requirements. Just a structured process from start to finish.

Nationwide Remote Support
If your document was issued or notarized in Florida, you can get help from anywhere in the U.S. or abroad.

Before requesting an apostille, confirm the following:

1. Verify the Document Type 

Certain documents must be certified originals (such as vital records). Others must be properly notarized before submission.

2. Ensure Proper Notarization

For personal or corporate documents, the notarial certificate must include correct wording, a legible seal, and an active Florida commission.

Not sure your document qualifies? Send it for review before submission to lower the risk of it being sent back.

3. Translation Requirements

If the receiving country requires a certified translation, coordination may be required before apostille processing.

Send a clear photo or scan of your document for review. You get confirmation of eligibility, processing time, and the fastest path forward before you submit anything incorrectly. Start your apostille request below so your international process stays on track.