Do I Need to Apostille My Florida Marriage Certificate to Use It Abroad?

When you need an apostille, and when you don't

A Florida marriage certificate generally needs an apostille when it's going to an authority in a country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, a civil registry, embassy, employer, university, or bank abroad, for example. If the destination country isn't part of the Convention, consular legalization may apply instead, a different process with several additional steps. Not every country is treated the same way, so it's worth confirming with the receiving authority whether their country participates in the Convention before starting anything.

Which document do you actually submit: license or certificate?

The marriage license is signed before the ceremony; the marriage certificate is the official record that the marriage took place and was recorded. Foreign authorities almost always ask for the certificate, not the license. If you're not sure which one you're holding, our guide on marriage license vs. marriage certificate walks through the difference in more detail.

How to tell whether the destination country is part of the Hague Convention

The list of member countries changes over time, so the most reliable way to confirm is to ask the receiving authority directly what authentication it requires, rather than assuming a generic answer. Some authorities, even in countries that do belong to the Convention, also require a certified translation of the apostilled certificate.

How to request the Florida marriage certificate

For marriages recorded from June 6, 1927 to the present, the certificate is ordered from Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics, part of the Florida Department of Health, and signed by the State Registrar. For marriages before that date, or when the county issues its own certified copy, the document is signed by the Clerk of the County Court where the license was issued. Florida's apostille authority accepts either version, as long as the official's signature is on file with the state.

We can help confirm exactly which document the receiving authority wants and coordinate the apostille from start to finish.

Mistakes that slow the process down

• Sending the marriage license instead of the recorded certificate.
• Submitting a printout of an online record search instead of an original certified copy.
• Requesting the certificate before the county has finished recording it (usually about 60 days after the wedding).
• Assuming every country requires the same kind of authentication.
• Not confirming whether the receiving authority also requires certified translation.