Apostille for a birth certificate from United States

Secretary of State of the issuing state; US Department of State for federal documents. Issued by: State or county vital records office; Consular Reports of Birth Abroad by the Department of State – The certificate must be a certified copy issued by the vital records office – hospital certificates cannot be apostilled.

Yes. The apostille must be issued in United States, but you do not have to be there: we organise a suitable original where possible, the submission to the competent authority and delivery of the apostilled birth certificate anywhere. The notary reviews your application first.

An Article 12 objection is in force between United States and Kosovo; documents for these countries are legalised or verified instead. Non-Convention countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait always need legalisation.

No. An apostille certifies the signature of the official who issued the document, so only the issuing country can attach it. A birth certificate from Colombia is apostilled in Colombia even if you live in Berlin. That is exactly what Notaryzer organises – through the online e-apostille systems where they exist, otherwise through our partners on site.

Yes. The apostille is attached to the original certificate or a certified extract freshly issued by the registry, never to a photocopy or a scan. Where the registry issues certificates online (Colombia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Spain, parts of the US), the electronic version can carry an electronic apostille.

The Convention sets no limit, but many destination countries – Türkiye, Italy for marriages, most of Latin America, the Gulf states – want a certificate issued within the last six months. We recommend ordering a fresh certificate together with the apostille.