Florida Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting an apostille on your Florida marriage certificate means ordering an official certified copy from the office that issued it, then having the state authenticate that copy. This guide walks you through it DIY, so you pay only the state apostille fee: $10.00 per document; OR $20.00 per document for documents certified by any Florida Clerk of Court when requesting an apostille ($10 apostille + $10 certificate of incumbency).
- Apostille fee: $10 per document
- Certified copy: $5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases
- Certified copy from: State Bureau of Vital Statistics, or the County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-02-24); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Florida Department of State
- Note: Only works for Florida-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Florida marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, then submit it to Florida Department of State with the $10 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para usar un certificado de matrimonio de Florida en otro país, necesita un apostille. Puede obtener la copia certificada en la Oficina de Estadísticas Vitales del estado (matrimonios desde 1927) o en el Secretario del Tribunal de Circuito del condado donde se emitió la licencia; después se envía al Departamento de Estado de Florida, División de Corporaciones, para el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of your Marriage Certificate. It confirms only that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine; it does not verify the facts of the marriage itself.
This matters because the decorative ceremony or keepsake certificate handed out by the officiant is not the official record. That souvenir cannot be apostilled, and neither can a plain photocopy or scan.
The apostille must be attached to a properly certified copy carrying the issuing office's raised seal and the clerk's original signature. Start with the right document and the rest of the process is straightforward.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Florida marriage certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility to order a certified copy of a marriage record is generally limited, and you will typically need to present a valid photo ID. In most cases you must be one of the following
- One of the spouses named on the record, or an authorized representative acting on their behalf.
- A requester providing a valid photo ID, which is usually required to release a certified copy.
Document Requirements
Certified copy
An official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature
Not the keepsake certificate
The decorative certificate from the ceremony/officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled
Eligible requester
Usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required
- •Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
- •Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your marriage certificate and the apostille itself.
$5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases
Certified marriage certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics)
$10
Per document
Payment method: Check or money order payable to Florida Department of State; U.S. currency/U.S. bank; no cash; no credit cards.
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases — Certified marriage certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics) |
| Apostille fee | $10 — per document |
| Payment | Check or money order payable to Florida Department of State; U.S. currency/U.S. bank; no cash; no credit cards. |
| Processing — by mail | Currently processing requests received around 02/18/26 (verified 2026-02-24) |
| Processing — in person | Walk-in requests are accepted at 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, during business hours. |
| Same-day / expedited | State says it does not offer expedited services; offers walk-in services. |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified marriage certificate
Order the certified copy from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage license was issued. The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics also holds the record about 60 days after the ceremony.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Assemble your packet: the sealed certified copy, the completed request form, payment, and a self-addressed return envelope. Mail it to the apostille authority at P. The certified copy goes directly to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations — a state-issued copy is $10 to apostille, a Clerk-of-Court-certified copy is $20.
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee
FL 32314 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled marriage certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee
FL 32314
Phone
850-245-6053
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, except state holidays
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Official Resources
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Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- dos.fl.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- floridahealth.gov· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section (also labeled Notary Commissions and Apostille Section)
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section (also labeled Notary Commissions and Apostille Section) before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Florida marriage certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $10 apostille fee and Florida Department of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified marriage certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected