FLORIDA APOSTILLE

Florida Apostille Services for All 67 Counties

Miami Dade Apostille provides apostille processing for documents issued in any of Florida's 67 counties, as well as federal documents processed through the U.S. Department of State. Select a county below for county-specific requirements, or read on for how the Florida apostille process works.

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DEFINITION

What Is a Florida Apostille?

A Florida apostille certifies that a document issued in Florida carries a valid signature, seal, or official capacity — allowing it to be recognized in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. It authenticates the document's origin, not its content, and does not guarantee acceptance by any particular receiving authority.

Florida apostilles are issued by the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee, regardless of which county the underlying document came from. The Hague Convention must apply between Florida (as part of the United States) and the destination country for an apostille to be the correct authentication method.

REQUIREMENTS

Before a Document Can Be Apostilled

Documents must be properly notarized or certified before apostille processing. Incorrect preparation is one of the most common reasons for delays or rejection.

Vital records — such as birth and marriage certificates — generally require certified copies issued by the appropriate official custodian (county or state vital records office). Not all formats of vital record copies qualify; confirm current Florida Department of State requirements for your specific record type before submitting. Private documents, such as a power of attorney, typically need to be notarized first.

Official Florida DOS reference: dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/accepted-documents

PROCESS

How the Florida Apostille Process Works

1
Confirm Requirements Reviewing the document to confirm what is needed before apostille.
2
Notarize or Certify Ensuring the document is notarized or issued as a certified copy from the appropriate official custodian.
3
Submit for Processing Sending the document to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee.
4
Return The completed document is returned by pickup, mail, or international shipping.

Remote Online Notarization is available for eligible documents and signers where permitted, commonly used for affidavits, powers of attorney, declarations, and business documents. Acceptance of RON-notarized documents for apostille purposes depends on the receiving authority and document type.

Miami Dade Apostille is not a government agency and does not issue apostilles directly. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. Requirements and processing times vary by document type.

FEDERAL DOCUMENTS

Federal Apostilles vs. Florida Apostilles

Not every document goes through Tallahassee. Federal documents — including FBI background checks and certain other U.S. government-issued records — require a federal apostille processed through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., depending on the document type and eligibility, regardless of which Florida county the request originates from.

Learn more about FBI apostille processing →

DOCUMENT TYPES

Documents We Process

Birth, marriage & death certificates
Divorce decrees & court records
FBI background checks
Notarized documents & affidavits
Powers of attorney
Diplomas & transcripts
Corporate documents

Miami Dade Apostille is not a government agency and does not issue apostilles directly. We are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. We are not responsible for delays or rejections by government authorities.

COUNTY DIRECTORY

Find Apostille Requirements by County

We provide apostille services for documents issued in all 67 Florida counties. Select a county below for county-specific requirements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Florida Apostille FAQ

What is a Florida apostille?

A certification issued by the Florida Department of State that authenticates a document's signature, seal, or official capacity for use in another Hague Convention member country. It verifies the document's origin, not its content, and does not guarantee acceptance by any particular receiving authority.

Do all Florida counties process apostilles the same way?

Yes. Regardless of the county where a document was issued, the apostille itself is issued by the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee.

Do I need to notarize my document first?

It depends on the document type. Vital records like birth and marriage certificates generally require certified copies issued by the appropriate official custodian — not notarized photocopies. Confirm current Florida DOS requirements for your specific record type. Private documents, like a power of attorney, typically need to be notarized first.

Is Remote Online Notarization available?

Yes, for eligible documents and signers where permitted. Acceptance of RON-notarized documents for apostille purposes depends on the receiving authority and document type. Contact us to confirm whether your document qualifies.

Does an FBI background check get apostilled in Tallahassee?

No. FBI background checks generally require a federal apostille through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., not the Florida Department of State.

Can documents be mailed in from any Florida county?

Yes, documents can be mailed in from anywhere in Florida, with completed apostilles returned by mail or courier. When mailing documents to us, use a trackable shipping method and keep your tracking number.

Call 1(800) 631-9171 to begin your Florida apostille process, or start your order online.

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A Note on Legal Advice: Miami Dade Apostille is not a law firm, and our team does not include attorneys. This page is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.