Pennsylvania Birth Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting a Pennsylvania Birth Certificate apostille is a two-part job: you order a certified copy from the state, then have the Commonwealth authenticate it for use abroad. This guide walks you through it DIY, so you pay only the $15.00 per document for apostille or certification.
- Apostille fee: $15 per document
- Certified copy: $20 per certificate
- Processing Time: About 2–3 weeks by mail; same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Note: Only works for Pennsylvania-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Pennsylvania birth certificate, order an official certified copy from Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records., then submit it to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the $15 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de nacimiento de Pennsylvania, solicite una copia certificada oficial a Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records y luego envíela a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania junto con la tarifa de apostille de $15. 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 or confirm anything about you personally — it only certifies that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine, so the document is recognized in other countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Because of this, a hospital keepsake or souvenir certificate, a notarized statement, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled. You must start with a current certified copy bearing the registrar's original signature and the state's raised or multicolor seal.
Only that official copy is eligible.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Pennsylvania 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
Access to a certified Birth Certificate is restricted, so the vital-records office limits ordering to people with a direct, qualified interest in the record. Typically that includes
- The person named on the certificate
- An immediate family member (such as a parent, spouse, or adult child)
- A legal guardian or a legal representative acting on the person's behalf
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.
$20 per certificate
Certified birth certificate (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records)
$15
Per document
Payment method: Mail: personal check, money order, or cashier's check payable to 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'. Walk-in: check, money order, or credit card (no cash since Nov 2024).
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $20 per certificate — Certified birth certificate (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records) |
| Apostille fee | $15 — per document |
| Payment | Mail: personal check, money order, or cashier's check payable to 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'. Walk-in: check, money order, or credit card (no cash since Nov 2024). |
| Processing — by mail | about 2–3 weeks (excludes mailing time) |
| Processing — in person | Requests received in person by 4:00 PM are processed same day. |
| Same-day / expedited | No separate paid expedite tier published by DOS; same-day walk-in is the state speed option. |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-25 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 your certified Birth Certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records using one of these ordering methods
- Online ordering
- Mail-in application
- In-person ordering at public offices
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the sealed certified copy, assemble your apostille packet: the certified Birth Certificate, a completed request form, your payment, and a prepaid return envelope. The fee is $15.
Pennsylvania Department of State
Apostilles & Certifications
North Office Building
Room 201
401 North Street
Harrisburg
PA 17120-0029 - 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
Pennsylvania Department of State
Apostilles & Certifications
North Office Building
Room 201
401 North Street
Harrisburg
PA 17120-0029
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 2026-02-25).
- pa.gov· checked 2026-02-25
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation (Apostilles and Certifications service).
- Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of 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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation (Apostilles and Certifications service). before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Pennsylvania 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
- 2026-06-09Updated
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.
- 2026-02-25Verified
Confirmed the $15 apostille fee and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-25Verified
Verified where to order a certified birth certificate (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected