Pennsylvania Death Certificate Apostille Guide
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Apostilling a Pennsylvania death certificate means ordering an official certified copy from the state, then having the Commonwealth authenticate it for use abroad. This guide walks you through doing it yourself for the state apostille fee only: $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 death 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 defunción 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 does not verify the facts written on a Death Certificate. It authenticates the document by confirming that the signature and seal of the issuing vital-records official are genuine, so the certificate is accepted in another country.
Because of this, only an official certified copy issued by the state vital-records office can be apostilled. A funeral-home or hospital keepsake copy, an informational copy, or any photocopy or scan cannot be apostilled.
You must start with the sealed, signed certified copy in hand before the state will attach an apostille to it.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Pennsylvania death 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 released only to people with a direct connection to the deceased or the estate, and you will need a valid government-issued photo ID. Eligibility typically includes
- The surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased
- The estate's legal representative or executor
- Anyone able to show proof of relationship or a documented legal interest
Document Requirements
Certified original
State-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal — not an informational copy
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
Eligible requester
Usually the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or the estate's legal representative/executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
- •Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
- •Stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged or altered certificates
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your death certificate and the apostille itself.
$20 per certificate
Certified death 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 death 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 death certificate
Begin by ordering the certified death certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records using one of its methods
- Online ordering
- Mail-in application
- In-person ordering at public offices
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you hold the certified copy, assemble your apostille packet: the certified copy, a completed request form, your payment, and a self-addressed return envelope. Use the Request-for-Legalization-of-Documents form.
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 death 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 scans of a certified copy
Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
Stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged or altered certificates
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 death 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.
- 2026-02-25Verified
Confirmed the $15 apostille fee and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-25Verified
Verified where to order a certified death certificate (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.) and the apostille submission addresses.
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