Florida Diploma & Transcript Apostille Guide

An apostille on an Educational Diploma / Transcript authenticates a signature and seal — it does not certify your grades, the validity of your degree, or the school's accreditation. The signature it authenticates is usually an in-state notary's (who attests that your copy is a true copy) or the school registrar's, where the state keeps that signature on file. A diploma is the certificate awarding your degree; a transcript is the detailed record of courses and grades. The destination institution or employer decides which one it wants, and sometimes both, so confirm their requirement before you start.

Start by getting an official copy from the school or registrar. Order one of the following:

• Sealed official copy — an official diploma or a registrar-sealed transcript, kept in the school's sealed envelope where required.
• A signature to authenticate — an apostille authenticates a signature/seal, usually the in-state notary who attests the copy, or the school registrar's signature where the state keeps it on file.
• Accredited institution — issued by an accredited school, college, or university.

Where a transcript comes in a sealed envelope, leave it SEALED; opening it can void its official status. Note that a document from an unaccredited institution will not be accepted.

There are two routes to getting a signature the state can authenticate, so confirm which one your state and school support before you pay:

• Notarized true copy — most common: an in-state notary attests a true copy of the diploma/transcript (or the school official signs before a notary); the state then apostilles the notary's signature.
• Registrar-certified copy — some states authenticate the school registrar's signature directly when it is on file — no notary needed.

The common path is the notarized route: an in-state notary attests a true copy of your diploma or transcript (or the school official signs in front of a notary), and Florida apostilles that notary's signature. The registrar route skips the notary entirely when the registrar's signature is already on file with the state.

Florida accepts certified documents issued by county Clerks of Court for apostille and charges the special clerk-certified fee tier ($20 including certificate of incumbency). State page lists examples like marriage certificates and other clerk-certified records as acceptable. No additional state-published intermediate certification step was found beyond clerk certification and state apostille submission.

• Miami-Dade County
• Broward County
• Palm Beach County
• Hillsborough County
• Orange County
• Pinellas County
• Duval County

This matters for the notarized-copy route: once your in-state notary attests the true copy, that signed document is what Florida authenticates with the apostille.

Submit your notarized (or registrar-certified) copy to the state apostille authority:

1. 1.
   The document

   the original sealed/certified report or copy — not a plain photocopy

2. 2.
   Request form

   Required form (download: https://dos.fl.gov/media/702388/1-apostille_and_notarial_certificate_request_form-10-19-2023.pdf), stating the destination country

3. 3.
   Payment

   for the apostille fee (see Fees below)

4. 4.
   Return envelope

   self-addressed; add a prepaid tracked label for return

As of 2026-02-24, the apostille authority lists "Apostille Requests | 02/18/26" from "Document Processing Dates (Updated 02/23/26)." Queue times drift, so check the official document processing dates page for the current status before you mail. Remember that obtaining the sealed copy from your school and getting it notarized each add their own time on top of the apostille turnaround, so plan for every stage.

Many destinations require a certified translation of the diploma or transcript and its apostille, and some also require a credential evaluation that maps your degree to local standards. The receiving country or institution sets these requirements, so confirm exactly what they need before you submit. When a translation is required, have it prepared after the apostille is attached so the apostille itself is translated too.