North Carolina Birth Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting a North Carolina birth certificate apostille means two things: ordering a certified copy from the state, then having North Carolina authenticate it for use abroad. This guide walks you through it yourself, paying only the state apostille fee — $10.00 for the first document; $5.00 for each additional document submitted at the same time.
- Apostille fee: $10 per apostille certificate
- Certified copy: $24 per copy.
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-06-05); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for North Carolina-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a North Carolina birth certificate, order an official certified copy from NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records., then submit it to North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State with the $10 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de nacimiento de North Carolina, solicite una copia certificada oficial a NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records y luego envíela a North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $10. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of your Birth Certificate issued by the state vital-records office. It does not verify the facts on the record — it confirms only that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine, so the document is accepted in another country.
That is why the copy you submit matters. A hospital-issued souvenir certificate, a keepsake version, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled.
You need the state-issued certified copy bearing the official seal and an original registrar's signature; anything else will be returned before it ever reaches the apostille stage.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a North Carolina birth 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
Certified copies are issued to people with a direct connection to the record — typically the person named on it, an immediate family member, a legal guardian, or an authorized legal representative. You will generally need to present a valid government-issued photo ID when you order. For your North Carolina Birth Certificate, plan to provide: a state-issued certified copy carrying a raised or multicolor seal, and the registrar's original (not stamped) signature. Exact eligibility and the proof you must show vary slightly depending on the office and your relationship to the record, so check the requirements before you apply.
- Certified original: A state-issued certified copy — not an informational or souvenir copy
- Raised or multicolor seal: An embossed or colored seal from the issuing vital-records office
- Original signature: The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
Document Requirements
Certified original
A state-issued certified copy — not an informational or souvenir copy
Raised or multicolor seal
An embossed or colored seal from the issuing vital-records office
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
- •Photocopies or scanned copies
- •Computer-generated or informational copies (often marked "not a valid document")
- •Documents with stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged, altered, or faded certificates
- •Hospital "keepsake" or souvenir certificates
- •Certificates issued by another state
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your birth certificate and the apostille itself.
$24 per copy.
Certified birth certificate (NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records)
$10
Per apostille certificate
Payment method: Personal check, money order, cashier's check (payable to NC Secretary of State).
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $24 per copy. — Certified birth certificate (NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records) |
| Apostille fee | $10 — per apostille certificate |
| Payment | Personal check, money order, cashier's check (payable to NC Secretary of State). |
| Processing — by mail | Sources searched: https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/authentications/apostilles_and_certificates ; https://www.sosnc.gov/documents/forms/authentication/authentication-request-cover-sheet.pdf |
| Processing — in person | In-person drop-off and pickup options are listed on request instructions. |
| Same-day / expedited | NOT FOUND (no separate paid expedite tier published on retrieved pages). |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-06-05 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified birth certificate
Start by ordering a certified copy of your Birth Certificate from NC Vital Records using one of these methods: Online (VitalChek) Mail Walk-in Whatever method you choose, make sure you request a certified copy — the one issued with the official raised or multicolor seal and the registrar's original signature. A photocopy, a scan, or a hospital souvenir certificate will not work and cannot be apostilled.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the certified copy, assemble your apostille packet: the certified Birth Certificate, the completed authentication request cover sheet, your payment, and a return envelope. Mail it to the apostille authority at: Authentications, PO Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622.
Authentications
PO Box 29622
Raleigh
NC 27626-0622. - 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 birth certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
Authentications
PO Box 29622
Raleigh
NC 27626-0622.
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Photocopies or scanned copies
Computer-generated or informational copies (often marked "not a valid document")
Documents with stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged, altered, or faded certificates
Hospital "keepsake" or souvenir certificates
Certificates issued by another state
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 2026-06-05).
- sosnc.gov· checked 2026-06-05
- vitalrecords.nc.gov· checked 2026-02-25
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Authentications Office.
- NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records.
- 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 North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Authentications Office. before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your North Carolina birth 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
- 2026-06-06Updated
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.
- 2026-06-05Verified
Confirmed the $10 apostille fee and North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-06-05Verified
Verified where to order a certified birth certificate (NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Vital Records.) and the apostille submission addresses.
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