My Florida Apostille
Tallahassee · FL
My Florida Apostille
Tallahassee · FL
Foreign embassies and consulates require an apostille certificate before they will accept a U.S.-issued document. The 1961 Hague Convention established the apostille as the universal form of authentication for its 125+ member states. The Florida Department of State in Tallahassee is the only authority designated to issue apostilles for documents originating in Florida.
Most people who need a Florida apostille face the same problem. Mailing documents to the Department of State takes five to seven weeks once you include transit and the state's processing queue. Driving to Tallahassee — assuming you live in Florida at all — costs you a full day. Other apostille services exist, but most charge premium prices for the same end result: a slow mail-in handoff.
We do it differently. You ship your documents to our office in Tallahassee using a pre-paid FedEx label that we email you the moment you place your order. We complete the Florida Department of State Apostille Request Form on your behalf, write the $10 state filing check, and walk your documents in person to the apostille counter. Once they come back apostilled, we ship them to your door using a second pre-paid FedEx label. Total time: five to seven business days. Total cost: $190 per document — FedEx both ways and the state fee included.
People with a Florida-issued document and a deadline. The most common reasons are dual citizenship through ancestry (Italy, Poland, Ireland, Germany, Portugal), foreign real estate closings in Latin America and Europe, international school enrollment, foreign work visas and residency applications, marriage abroad, international business setup, and inheritance and estate matters in another country.
Almost any document the State of Florida issues — or that a Florida notary properly notarizes — qualifies for an apostille. The most common we process: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, FDLE background checks, diplomas and transcripts, powers of attorney, articles of incorporation, and notarized affidavits. Each has its own requirements, and we'll flag any issue before we file. Hospital "souvenir" birth certificates can't be apostilled; you need a certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or your county vital records office. Powers of attorney must be notarized first. We catch these things upfront so your document doesn't get rejected at the counter.
Mailing your documents directly to the Florida Department of State is, in theory, the cheapest option — $10 in state fees, plus a money order, plus return postage. In practice it takes five to seven weeks, there is no tracking, the application must be completed correctly or your document is rejected and mailed back, and DOS does not accept case-specific phone calls. Approximately ten to fifteen percent of mail-in applications are rejected the first time. A rejection costs you the $10, your shipping, and another five to seven weeks.
Our model removes those risks. Your documents travel via FedEx with full tracking in both directions. We review every document before we file. We complete the application form for you. If something needs to be re-pulled from a county clerk in Tallahassee before filing, we handle that on the spot — same day, no extra round-trip through the mail. The state still charges $10. We charge $190 for filling out the form correctly, walking it in, catching rejections before they happen, and getting it back to you in days instead of weeks.
Standard turnaround is five to seven business days from the moment we receive your documents at our Tallahassee office. That includes the day we receive them, the day we file with DOS, the day DOS returns them, and the FedEx transit back to you. Rush options are available for time-sensitive immigration appointments, visa deadlines, and foreign closings — contact us before placing your order if you need expedited handling.
Whether you need a birth certificate for an Italian citizenship application, a marriage certificate for a Spanish residency permit, a power of attorney for a Brazilian real estate closing, or a diploma for an employer in Germany — we handle the entire process. Start your order online, or call (850) 000-0000 with any questions.
Mailing your documents directly to the Florida Department of State sounds simple. It is not. The state takes five to seven weeks once you include transit and processing. Roughly one in eight applications gets rejected the first time, usually for an error on the application form. When a document is rejected, the state mails it back — and you start over.
We built this service for the opposite outcome. You ship once. We do the form, walk the document in, catch issues at the counter, and ship it back. You get a finished apostille in days instead of weeks.
A defined, predictable workflow. The same procedure for every order, regardless of document type or destination country.
Place your order in about three minutes. Tell us how many documents, what type, where they're going, and the address to ship them back to. Pay by card.
We email you a pre-paid FedEx label immediately, as a QR code. Drop your documents at any FedEx location — show the code on your phone, no printing required.
Your documents arrive at our Tallahassee office. We complete the state application form, attach the $10 filing fee, and walk them in person to the Florida Department of State.
We ship your apostilled documents back via a second pre-paid FedEx label. You track both legs end to end. Total time: five to seven business days.
$190 per document. FedEx both ways. State fee included. Five to seven business days.
Most orders fall into one of these categories. Each has a different deadline, a different destination, and a different document set — but the same need for a fast, correctly filed apostille.
People claiming citizenship through ancestry — Italian (jure sanguinis), Polish, Irish, German, Portuguese, or Spanish — typically need three to five apostilled documents: their own birth certificate, marriage certificate, and sometimes parents' or grandparents' Florida-issued documents.
The full application takes 18 months or longer at the consulate, so applicants almost always need apostilles done early to begin the review. Our 3+ document bundle pricing fits this workflow naturally.
People buying property in Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, or anywhere in Latin America need apostilled powers of attorney, marriage certificates, and identity declarations to close.
Foreign closings operate on tight schedules — often requiring documents within 7–10 days. Five-to-seven-day turnaround keeps deals on track. Many destination countries also require certified translations; we can refer you to a partner translator.
Applying for work visas, employment-based residency, or professional licensure abroad typically requires an apostilled FDLE background check, marriage certificate (for spouse visas), diploma, or professional credentials.
Common destinations: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, and most of Europe. The apostilled FDLE check carries a 90-day validity window for most programs, so timing matters. Five-to-seven-day turnaround keeps applications on schedule.
Relocating for retirement, work, or family reasons typically requires apostilled birth certificates, marriage certificates, FDLE background checks, and sometimes diplomas or professional licenses depending on the destination.
Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, and most Latin American countries require comprehensive document packages for residency applications. We process the whole packet in a single order — typically with the 3+ bundle.
Students pursuing graduate study abroad — Spain, Germany, France, the UK, China, South Korea — need apostilled diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates for admissions and visa applications.
Most international universities require apostilled academic credentials before admission is finalized. We work with documents from any Florida-issued institution or any document properly notarized by a Florida notary.
Marrying overseas typically requires apostilled birth certificates for both partners, FDLE background checks, and a notarized affidavit of marital status — sometimes called a "single status" or "no impediment" affidavit.
Italy, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and most of Latin America require this packet. We process the full set together. The affidavit must be notarized first; the other documents go through as-is.
The FDLE Florida criminal history check is one of the most-requested apostille documents. Countries requesting it include China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and most European Schengen-area nations for work and residency visas.
The apostilled FDLE check is valid for 90 days for most visa programs. We process it alongside any other Florida documents you need for the same application.
No hourly rates, no hidden charges, no surprise add-ons. The price you see is the price you pay — FedEx both ways, the $10 state filing fee, and the application form, all included.
Need 10+ documents? Call (850) 000-0000 for volume pricing.
Because the $10 fee isn't the wait, the rejection risk, or the headache. We are.
| DIY by Mail to FL DOS | My Florida Apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 5–7 weeks | 5–7 business days |
| State fee | $10 (you write a check) | $10 (included) |
| Application form | You complete it correctly — or get rejected | We complete it for you |
| In-person walk-in | Not possible from out of town | Done by us, every order |
| Rejection risk | ~10–15% reject rate · costs $10 + 5–7 weeks restart | We catch issues before submission |
| Tracking | Mail to a PO box · no tracking | FedEx tracking, both directions |
| Customer service | DOS doesn't take case-specific calls | Real Florida specialists on the phone |
| What you do | Write a check, mail originals, wait 5–7 weeks | Click. Pay. Show QR at FedEx. Done. |
If you have time, patience for paperwork, and no deadline — DIY is a fine choice. If you have an immigration appointment, a visa deadline, a foreign closing, or a job start date — every day matters. We do it in days, not weeks.
Hear directly from people who used My Florida Apostille for citizenship applications, visa documents, and international transactions.
There are exactly four ways to apostille a Florida document. Three of them cost you significantly more time, money, or both.
| DIY by Mail to FL DOS |
Drive to Tallahassee |
Other Apostille Services |
My Florida Apostille | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total turnaround | 5–7 weeks | Same day (after the drive) | 6–10 business days | 5–7 business days |
| You complete the application | Yes — get it wrong, get rejected | Yes — completed at the counter | Sometimes | No — we complete it |
| In-person filing | No — mailed in | Yes — by you | Varies by provider | Yes — by us |
| Shipping included | No | N/A | Often extra | FedEx both ways |
| State fee included | $10 you pay separately | $10 you pay separately | Sometimes | Yes |
| Rejection protection | ~10–15% reject rate | Some at counter | Varies | Pre-submission review |
| Total cost (1 document) | $10–$25 + 5–7 weeks of waiting | $10 + gas + a full day of driving | $199–$299 + shipping often extra | $190 FedEx + state fee included |
| What you do | Write a check, mail, wait, hope | Drive 8+ hours round trip | Fill out forms, mail to them | Click. Pay. Show QR. |
$190 per document. FedEx both ways. State fee included. Five to seven business days.
Over a decade processing apostilles for clients nationwide
Verified customer reviews on Google & industry directories
Commissioned notary public, State of Florida
Outbound and return tracking · Full chain of custody
Any Florida-issued or Florida-notarized document may be authenticated by the Florida Department of State. The most common categories we process:
| Document Type | Typical Use | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Required for citizenship applications, residency, marriage abroad. Hospital "souvenir" certificates do not qualify. | 5–7 days |
| Marriage Certificate | For dual citizenship, spouse visas, foreign residency applications, and marriage validity in foreign jurisdictions. | 5–7 days |
| Death Certificate | Required for estate administration, probate, and inheritance proceedings in foreign countries. | 5–7 days |
| Divorce Decree | Certified copy from the Florida court of issuance. Required for remarriage or status verification abroad. | 5–7 days |
| FDLE Background Check | Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal history. Required by many countries for visas, work permits, and immigration. Valid 90 days from issuance for most programs. | 5–7 days |
| Diploma & Transcripts | For overseas employment, professional licensure, or graduate study. Documents must be notarized by the issuing institution's registrar or a Florida notary. | 5–7 days |
| Power of Attorney | Common for international real estate transactions. Must be notarized by a Florida notary public before shipping. Remote online notarization (RON) qualifies. | 5–7 days |
| Corporate Documents | Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, certificates of authority. Required for opening foreign subsidiaries and international banking. | 5–7 days |
| Notarized Affidavits | Single-status affidavits, sworn statements, declarations. Must be notarized by a Florida notary before shipping. Used for marriage abroad, immigration, legal matters. | 5–7 days |
Multiple documents to apostille? See bundle pricing →
A short explanation of the document, its history, and why every foreign country requires one before accepting U.S. paperwork.
An apostille is a certificate of authentication issued by a designated state authority that verifies the legitimacy of a public document for international use. Created by the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, the apostille replaces the older multi-step consular legalization process and is recognized in all 125+ Hague Convention member states without further authentication.
In Florida, apostilles are issued exclusively by the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee — there is no county-level or local apostille office. Documents originating outside Florida must apply through their issuing state's Secretary of State, and federal documents are authenticated separately in Washington, D.C., outside the scope of our service.
Common reasons people need a Florida apostille: applying for dual citizenship through ancestry, registering a marriage abroad, finalizing real estate transactions in Latin America, enrolling children in foreign schools, obtaining foreign work visas, opening international business entities, completing inheritance and estate matters, and immigration paperwork in non-U.S. jurisdictions.
If your document was issued by the State of Florida — or notarized by a Florida notary — we can apostille it. It doesn't matter where you live. Ship to our Tallahassee office from anywhere in the country.
Living in Florida and need a Florida document apostilled? Skip the drive and the mail-in wait. Ship to us via FedEx with our pre-paid label and we'll have it back to you in 5–7 business days.
Need a Florida-issued document apostilled but you live in another state? Same service. Ship from anywhere in the U.S. to our Tallahassee office. Return shipment goes to any U.S. address you specify at checkout.
Three short sections. About three minutes. We'll email your pre-paid FedEx label the moment you complete payment.
Five to seven business days. FedEx both ways included. State fee included. Application form completed for you. Real Florida specialists on the phone if anything comes up.
