Arizona apostille services: certified records and submission options
Arizona apostilles are issued by the Arizona Secretary of State. Original notarized or certified recorded documents are required — no electronically issued apostilles. Mail and walk-in options are available at the Phoenix and Tucson offices.
Arizona apostille coordination
Miami Dade Apostille coordinates apostille processing for Arizona documents submitted by mail. We review documents before submission, route to the correct authority, and arrange secure return delivery. No in-person visit to Arizona is required on your part.
The destination country determines whether an apostille or a different form of authentication is needed. Confirm which form the receiving authority requires — and whether the Hague Apostille Convention applies — before ordering.
Apostille versus other authentication
An apostille is issued when the Hague Apostille Convention applies between the United States and the destination country. When it does not apply, the document may require a different authentication chain — potentially including U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy or consular legalization. Confirm the complete chain with the receiving authority before ordering.
An apostille authenticates the official signature, capacity, and seal on a document. It does not certify the content of the document or guarantee acceptance by the foreign recipient.
Certified copies versus genealogy images
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) offers an online genealogy search with historical vital record images. These images are useful for research but do not constitute certified copies and are not eligible for apostille processing. Only an official certified copy in a form the Arizona Secretary of State can authenticate qualifies.
Arizona apostille routing at a glance
The correct document type and issuing office depend on the record. The table below summarizes key paths. See the sections that follow for detail.
| Document | Issuing office | For apostille | Apostille authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth or death certificate | Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) or certain county offices. Check ADHS for current eligibility, ordering options, and county availability. | Submit certified copy with original issuing-authority signature to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| Marriage certificate | Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the marriage license was issued. | Submit certified copy to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. | Submit certified copy to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| Notarized document (POA, affidavit, personal document) | Original Arizona notary signature required on the document itself. | Submit complete original notarized document — not a photocopy — to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| School transcript or diploma | Contact the school's registrar or custodian of records for preparation requirements. Confirm with the issuing institution and the Arizona SOS what form of certification is required before ordering. | Submit to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. Confirm preparation requirements with the SOS before mailing. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| Corporate / business records | Issuer-certified public records (e.g., Arizona Corporation Commission filings) follow the public-record path. Privately signed business documents — such as a notarized corporate resolution — require proper Arizona notarization. | Submit to Arizona SOS with completed request form, fee, and return postage. Confirm which form of certification applies to your specific record type. | Arizona Secretary of State |
| FBI Identity History Summary | Federal document issued by the FBI. | Apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not the Arizona SOS. The Arizona SOS request form excludes federal official documents. Residence in Arizona is irrelevant to routing. | U.S. Department of State |
Verify current requirements with the Arizona Secretary of State and the receiving authority before ordering. Requirements change; use the version in effect at the time of your application.
Arizona vital records: ordering certified copies
Birth and death certificates are available from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) or an authorized county vital-records office, depending on the record. Eligibility requirements and government-issued ID apply. Check the ADHS vital records page for current ordering options, fees, and county availability.
Marriage certificates are issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the marriage license was issued — not ADHS. Divorce decrees are issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Confirm which document the receiving authority requires before ordering.
Only an official certified copy in a form the Arizona Secretary of State can authenticate qualifies for apostille processing. Genealogy search images available through ADHS are not certified copies and are not eligible.
Submission options: mail or walk-in
The Arizona Secretary of State accepts apostille requests by mail and in person at two offices. Both options require the completed request form and applicable fee. Return postage requirements apply to mailed requests or requests returned by mail — check the current official instructions for walk-in requirements before visiting.
Mail submission
Mail to the Arizona Secretary of State's office in Phoenix. Check the official authentications page for the current mailing address, form, and fee schedule. Include a return label with your address on both sender and recipient fields as instructed.
Walk-in (in-person) submission
Walk-in service is available at the Phoenix office (Suite 220) and the Tucson office (Suite 221). A walk-in expedite option exists with current limits and fees — check the official page for current availability and pricing before traveling. No appointment is guaranteed; confirm current hours and procedures before visiting.
Arizona does not issue electronically issued apostilles. The apostille is a physical document attached to or accompanying the original.
Federal records and out-of-state documents
The FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document. The Arizona SOS request form explicitly excludes federal official documents. The apostille must come from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not the Arizona Secretary of State.
A person who lives in Arizona but holds a document issued by another state must obtain the apostille from that issuing state — not Arizona. Residence does not reroute a document.
Miami Dade Apostille is a Florida-based private coordinator. We do not convert Arizona public records into Florida records. For privately signed documents — such as a power of attorney signed in Florida — Florida Remote Online Notarization (RON) may be available for eligible documents, signers, and recipients, subject to identity, witness, document, and recipient rules. Discuss the appropriate state routing before proceeding; a genealogy image or photocopy is never a substitute for a certified vital record.
Preparation checklist
Processing times depend on the submission method and current queue at the Arizona Secretary of State's office. Check the official authentications page for current turnaround information before ordering. Walk-in expedite options exist — confirm current availability and fees before traveling.
Confirm the destination country's requirements
Determine whether the Hague Apostille Convention applies between the U.S. and the destination country. Obtain the receiving authority's current document checklist — requirements change, and the version in effect at the time of your application controls.
Identify the correct document and issuing office
Use the routing table above to identify the correct issuing office for your document type. Birth and death certificates come from ADHS or an authorized county vital-records office — not from genealogy databases. Marriage certificates come from the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the license was issued; divorce decrees from the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Obtain the correct original or certified copy
Original notarized or certified recorded documents are required. Genealogy images and photocopies are not eligible. For notarized private documents, ensure the original is a complete, properly notarized document. For school records, confirm preparation requirements with the issuing institution and the Arizona SOS before ordering.
Complete the Arizona SOS request form
Download and complete the current Arizona SOS Apostille Request Form. Include the destination country. The form excludes federal official documents — those route to the U.S. Department of State.
Send scans for review before mailing originals
Send clear scans for review before committing originals to the mail. This step catches missing certifications, wrong document types, or preparation issues before they cause delays.
Submit with fee and return postage
Include the applicable fee. For mail submissions, include a return label with your address on both the sender and recipient fields, per official instructions. Check the Arizona SOS authentications page for current fees and mailing address. For walk-in submissions, confirm current hours, expedite availability, and in-person requirements before traveling.
Working toward a deadline? Send us a scan before mailing the original.
Frequently asked questions
Arizona documents served
Miami Dade Apostille accepts Arizona document submissions by mail from anywhere in the state. Common originating cities and counties include:
- Phoenix
- Tucson
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Glendale
- Gilbert
- Tempe
- Peoria
- Surprise
- Yuma
- Avondale
- Flagstaff
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
- Casa Grande
- Lake Havasu City
- Maricopa
- Sierra Vista
- Prescott
Sources
- Arizona SOS — Authentication (apostille request, form, fees, offices) ↗
- Arizona SOS — Apostille Request Form (PDF) ↗
- ADHS — Vital Records (ordering and eligibility) ↗
- ADHS — Genealogy Search (research images — not certified copies) ↗
- CDC — Where to Write for Arizona Vital Records ↗
- USA.gov — Authenticate a U.S. Document ↗
- HCCH — Apostille Convention Status Table ↗
Sample Arizona apostille certificate
Miami Dade Apostille is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We are a private document coordination service. We do not issue government records or apostilles, and we do not determine document requirements. Confirm all requirements with the receiving country, consulate, embassy, or agency.
Get help with your Arizona apostille
Miami Dade Apostille coordinates eligible U.S. documents for international use — including state and federal apostille processing, document review before submission, certified translation support, and secure domestic or international return delivery.
We accept submissions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Response during regular business hours is approximately 2 hours. Send us a clear copy of your document for review before mailing the original.
If you're working toward a deadline, message us before sending your documents. We can review the requirements, help avoid preventable delays, and coordinate the correct process for you.
State documents: same day to 4 days. Federal documents (FBI, U.S. Department of State): 7–14 days. Contact us with your document type and deadline to confirm availability.
Miami Dade Apostille is a private document coordination service. We are not the Arizona Secretary of State, the Arizona Department of Health Services, a government agency, or a law firm. We do not provide legal advice or determine document requirements. We do not issue apostilles — apostilles are issued by the appropriate state or federal authority for the issuing document. Confirm all requirements directly with the receiving authority handling your specific procedure.