Texas Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
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Getting a Texas marriage certificate apostille 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 — Standard apostille/authentication: $15 per document; Adoption apostille: $10 per document, total fees capped at $100 per child.
- Apostille fee: $15 per document
- Certified copy from: County Clerk (county where the license was issued)
- Processing Time: About 25 business days by mail; same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Office of the Texas Secretary of State
- Note: Only works for Texas-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Texas marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from County Clerk (county where the license was issued), then submit it to Office of the Texas Secretary of State 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 Texas, solicite una copia certificada oficial a la oficina del condado correspondiente y luego envíela a Office of the Texas Secretary of State 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 — not the facts of the marriage itself.
The decorative ceremony or keepsake certificate handed out by your officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled. A plain photocopy or scan of a certified copy will also be rejected.
You need the sealed, signed certified copy from the office that holds the record — that is the single document the state will attach the apostille to. Order that copy first; everything in this guide assumes you have it in hand.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Texas 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 is generally limited and you will need to prove who you are. In most cases you can request one if you are
- One of the spouses named on the record, or an authorized representative acting on their behalf.
- Able to present a valid photo ID, which 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: In-person appointment/walk-in: check, money order, credit/debit card (2.7% convenience fee), cash (exact change only)
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Apostille fee | $15 — per document |
| Payment | In-person appointment/walk-in: check, money order, credit/debit card (2.7% convenience fee), cash (exact change only) |
| Processing — by mail | Mailed Authentication Requests can take up to twenty-five (25) business days to process your request from the day of receipt. Current processing time may exceed this timeframe due to high demand. |
| Processing — in person | Appointment-based same-day service on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday (max 10 docs per person/company/transaction) |
| Same-day / expedited | Same-day in-person service via appointment days and walk-in days |
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
Start by contacting the office that issued your record: Order the certified copy from the County Clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. Texas does NOT issue certified copies of marriage licenses at the state level — the Texas DSHS provides only a marriage verification, not a certified copy.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the sealed certified copy, assemble your packet: the certified copy, the completed request form, your payment, and a return envelope. Use the Required form(s) from the Texas Secretary of State (https://www. The county clerk's certified copy is a recordable document apostilled directly by the Texas Secretary of State ($15 per document) — no prior state certification is needed.
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550
Austin
Texas 78711-3550 - 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
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550
Austin
Texas 78711-3550
Phone
(512) 463-5705
Hours
Walk-in hours (division): 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday
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).
- sos.texas.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- dshs.texas.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- sos.state.tx.us· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS)
- 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 Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Texas 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 $15 apostille fee and Office of the Texas Secretary of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified marriage certificate (Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Vital Statistics Section (VSS)) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected