Florida Diploma / Transcript Apostille Guide
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If your diploma or transcript was issued in Florida and you need to use it outside the United States, it must be authenticated by the Florida Department of State (Division of Corporations — Apostille Section) in Tallahassee — the only competent authority that issues apostilles or notarial certifications for Florida public documents.
This information was reviewed and updated in November 2025 and reflects current requirements valid for 2026.
Who needs a Florida diploma/transcript apostille
Common cases: study or work abroad, professional licensing, recognition of credentials, immigration/dual citizenship, or foreign credential evaluation. School records are not vital records; they usually require a Florida notarization tied to the school registrar before the DOS can authenticate.
Key facts (at a glance)
| Competent authority | Florida Department of State, Apostille & Notarial Certification Section (Tallahassee) |
| Certificate type | Apostille (Hague) or Notarial Certification (non-Hague) |
| Fee (2026) | $10 per document (standard) or $20 if the document was certified by a Florida Clerk of Court |
| Request form | "Apostille & Notarial Certificate Request Form" (official DOS PDF) |
| USPS address | P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800 (for mail) |
| Courier / Walk-in | 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303 (FedEx/UPS/DHL; do not send courier to the P.O. Box) |
| School records scope | Diplomas, transcripts, registrar letters/certifications issued by Florida institutions only |
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What counts as a valid school record (Florida)
- Diploma: original or a registrar-issued certified duplicate
- Transcript: official, sealed transcript from the registrar
- Registrar certification: a signed statement from the registrar confirming the authenticity of the record
All must be prepared for apostille by attaching a Florida notarization to the registrar's signature (see next section).
Notarization & registrar certification (how to do it right)
Florida DOS authenticates Florida notarial acts. For school records, that means the registrar's signature must be notarized by a Florida notary. Two standard approaches:
A) Registrar's notarized certification attached to the document
- • Registrar signs a one-page certification referencing the student, the exact document (diploma/transcript), issue date, and pages
- • A Florida notary notarizes the registrar's signature (complete notarial certificate + date + commission info)
- • The certification is stapled to the diploma/transcript
B) Notarized "true copy" made by the registrar (common for diplomas)
- • Registrar prepares a certified copy of the diploma and signs a "true copy" statement
- • Florida notary notarizes the registrar's signature
- • The notarized copy becomes the record submitted for apostille
Template wording (registrar certification)
"I, [Registrar Name], Registrar of [School Name], certify that the attached [Diploma/Transcript] for [Student Full Name, DOB/Last 4 of Student ID if used] is a true and correct copy/record issued by [School Name]. Signed this [Date] in [City], Florida."
[Registrar signature] — notarized by a Florida notary (complete certificate).
Step-by-Step process (diploma/transcript)
- 1
Request/prepare the record
Ask the registrar for: (a) an official transcript (sealed) or (b) a duplicate/certified copy of the diploma. Request it for apostille use so the office knows to prepare a notarized registrar certification.
- 2
Attach Florida notarization
Ensure the registrar's signature is notarized by a Florida notary (no missing seals/dates; full notarial certificate). If your school routes documents through a Clerk of Court, note that DOS may charge $20 instead of $10.
- 3
Complete the DOS request form
Fill the Apostille & Notarial Certificate Request Form (your contact info, destination country, number of documents, return method). Print clearly.
Official DOS Form PDF - 4
Payment
Include a check or money order payable to "Florida Department of State":
- • $10 per document (standard)
- • $20 per document if the record was certified via a Florida Clerk of Court
(No cash/credit by mail.)
- 5
Include return shipping
Add a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepaid carrier label (avoid "Bill Sender" / handwritten airbills). Keep your tracking number.
- 6
Submit to Florida DOS
USPS: P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Courier / Walk-in: 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303
- 7
Processing & return
Expect several business days to a few weeks, depending on volume and mail. Your record returns with an attached apostille (Hague) or notarial certification (non-Hague).
When you do NOT need an apostille
- •If the document will be used only within the U.S.
- •If the foreign authority explicitly accepts a notarized/certified copy without apostille (rare — confirm first).
- •If your destination is non-Hague, you'll typically need state authentication + (sometimes) U.S. Department of State + consular legalization. Confirm with the consulate.
Common rejection reasons (Florida)
- No Florida notarization on the registrar's signature (or incomplete notarial certificate)
- Photocopies not created/attested by the registrar
- Paying $10 when the record was Clerk-of-Court certified (should be $20)
- Sending courier to the P.O. Box (use the Monroe St. address)
- Missing return label/envelope, or not listing the destination country on the DOS form
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to notarize a diploma or transcript before apostille?▼
Can Florida apostille a school record from another state?▼
Will a sealed official transcript be opened?▼
How long does it take?▼
In Spanish (mini-section)
Para usar un diploma o expediente académico (transcript) de Florida en el extranjero, necesita un apostille del Florida Department of State en Tallahassee. Generalmente, el firmante del registro (registrar) debe firmar una certificación que un notario de Florida legaliza. La tarifa es $10 por documento (o $20 si pasó por un Clerk of Court). Envíe el formulario oficial, el pago y una etiqueta de retorno con rastreo.
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Official Sources
- Florida Department of State — Apostille Section
- Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Federal Hague Convention Guidelines
Our Process
- Daily verification against official FL SOS updates
- Expert review by Florida specialists
- Fee and form oversight (Request Form DOS-260)
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Florida Department of State before submitting your application.
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-02-20Verified
Confirmed current Florida SOS fees ($10/doc, $20/Clerk) and mailing addresses in Tallahassee.
- 2026-01-12Verified
Verified Courier address (Monroe St) vs. Mailing address (P.O. Box).
- 2026-01-05Verified
Confirmed Vital Statistics requirements (Certified Copy vs. Photocopy).
- 2025-12-28Improved
Updated processing time estimates based on Department of State alerts.
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