Apostille Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates in the United States for use abroad
We authenticate Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates issued across the United States when required for presentation to authorities abroad.
Birth, marriage and death certificates issued by State and City authorities in the United States (e.g. California, Nevada, New York, Florida, Texas) are legalized for official use abroad by obtaining an Apostille stamp from the office of the respective Secretary of State.
Authorities of countries that have signed the 
Hague Apostille Convention will recognise the Apostille directly as confirmation of authenticity. Otherwise, the state authentication must be confirmed by the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC and by the destination country's embassy in Washington DC.
See list of Apostille Convention Countries
To obtain an apostille on a Consular Report of Birth or Death Abroad, issued by US consulates, a new certificate with an apostille must be requested from the U.S. Department of State.
Separate procedures apply to certificates issued in US territories:
Puerto Rico Apostille Service
US Virgin Islands Apostille Service
Isarey will take care of the entire process for you. We work locally with notaries and authentication agents across the United States, providing expedited services wherever available and an efficient and secure service. Rules on the eligibility of vital record certificate for Apostille certification vary from state to state, and not all certificates are valid; so we pre-check all documents, free of charge, to ensure certificates valid before arranging submission and that new certified copies are not required.
For further information about obtaining apostilles on U.S. vital records, select the state where your certificate was issued:
In most cases, original copies of birth, death and marriage certificate must be presented to the Secretary of State to obtain an apostille or authentication. However, some states will only authenticate certificates signed by certain and/or currently serving officials, so you may need to obtain a new copy of your certificate for an apostille. Likewise, some foreign jurisdictions will also require an original copy issued within the last 6 or 3 months.
We offer a free pre-check service, if you are not sure whether your certificate is eligible. We also offer secure collection of original certificates by courier worldwide, and delivery back to you once the authentication process is complete.
How to obtain a U.S. Birth, Death or Marriage Certificate
To obtain an additional or replacement copy of your U.S. birth, death or marriage certificate, for example because the certificate you have is not eligible for an apostille, it normally needs to be ordered personally. We can obtain marriage certificates on your behalf in some states, but the issue of birth and death certificates is generally restricted to the person named in the certificate or proven close relative.
Note that in some states, different types of vital record certificates can be issued and not all types are eligible for an apostille stamp or authentication.
Please contact us for assistance.
State-issued Vital Records
If you need to obtain a new copy of your birth, death or marriage certificate, for example because the certificate you have is not eligible for an apostille, it normally needs to be ordered personally. We can obtain marriage certificates on your behalf in some states, but the issue of birth certificates is generally restricted to the person named in the certificate or proven close relative.
- Vital record certificates can be ordered from the State Vital Records Department: Vital Records Office
- Most certificates can also be ordered online from: VitalChek.
- Vital record certificates can be ordered from the State Vital Records Department:
US Consular reports of births and deaths
U.S. citizens who are born or die abroad are issued with a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) or a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA). Replacement copies of these certificates should be requested directly from the State Department:
Certified translations of US death, marriage and birth certificates
When presenting US marriage, death and birth certificates and other vital records in countries which do not have English as an official language, then a certified translation may be required. The certified translation must meet the requirements of the destination country, so that a translation done locally in the United States may not be valid.
Depending on the recipient country and authority, there are generally two options. The first option is to obtain a translation from a US-based certified translation agency, certified by a US notary. This translation can then be certified by a Hague Apostille issued by the Secretary of State where the notary is commissioned, giving the translation the same validity as a notarised translation done in the destination country. The second option is to obtain a certified translation locally in the destination country.
Isarey works with local notaries and sworn translators in a wide range of destination countries. We'll take care of the entire legalization and translation process, so that your certificates are correctly translated and ready to submit:
- GERMANY: translations into German must be certified by an officially authorized and appointed sworn translator.
- SPAIN: translator must be authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Spanish) ("Traducción Jurada")
- FRANCE: translations into French must be certified by a translator accredited by a French court of appeal (Cour d'appel)
- ITALY: translations must be authenticated by a Court Clerk or by a Notary Public in Italy
- PORTUGAL: translations into Portuguese can be certified in Portugal by a local notary
For further information about our US apostille service and about legalizing birth, death and marriage certificates issued in the United States for use abroad, use our online quotation form or send us an email us. We will get back to you directly with a quotation and details of how to proceed: