Pennsylvania Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting a Pennsylvania marriage certificate apostille means obtaining a certified copy from the office that issued it, then having the Commonwealth authenticate that copy. This guide walks you through doing it yourself, so you pay only the state apostille fee: $15.00 per document for apostille or certification.
- Apostille fee: $15 per document
- Certified copy from: County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court
- 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 marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court, 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 matrimonio de Pennsylvania, solicite una copia certificada oficial a la oficina del condado correspondiente 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 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 to you by the officiant is not the official record and cannot be apostilled. Likewise, a photocopy or scan of any document will be rejected.
To get an apostille you need the official certified copy issued by the office that holds the record, carrying a raised or embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature. Start there and the authentication step becomes straightforward.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Pennsylvania 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 marriage record is generally limited, and you will need to provide identification. In short
- Certified copy: request the official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — the one with the raised or embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature.
- Not the keepsake certificate: the decorative certificate from the ceremony or 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.
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
Varies by issuing office — order the certified copy before you apply.
$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 |
|---|---|
| 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 marriage certificate
Start by ordering the certified copy. Order the certified copy from the Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court in the county where the marriage license was issued — the primary custodian of Pennsylvania marriage records.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the sealed certified copy, assemble your packet: the certified copy, the completed request form, payment, and a return envelope. The form to use is the Apostille request form (Request for Legalization of Documents). The certificate must be signed by the Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court; that certified (or exemplified) copy is apostilled directly by the Department of State ($15 per document).
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 marriage 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
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 2026-02-25).
- pa.gov· checked 2026-02-25
- phila.gov· checked 2026-06-06
- buckscounty.gov· checked 2026-06-06
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 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
- 2026-06-06Updated
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 marriage certificate (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.) and the apostille submission addresses.
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