About My Florida Apostille
Tallahassee · West Palm Beach
About My Florida Apostille
Tallahassee · West Palm Beach
My Florida Apostille is an independent, privately operated document service that helps people get Florida-issued documents authenticated for use abroad. We're not a government agency, and we're not affiliated with the Florida Department of State. We're a convenience service for people who need an apostille on a deadline and don't want to lose 5–7 weeks waiting for the state to process a mail-in request.
We operate from two Florida offices that work together. Our headquarters at 113 S Monroe St in Tallahassee sits half a mile from the Florida Department of State. This is our back office — where every document, no matter how it reaches us, gets walked in person to the apostille counter. The Tallahassee office is operational only; we don't accept customer walk-ins there.
Our South Florida office at 500 S Australian Ave, Suite 600 in West Palm Beach is the customer-facing hub. This is where in-person drop-offs happen, where pickups for the apostille are completed, and where our mobile pickup specialists dispatch from to serve Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
That two-office structure is what makes the same 5–7 business day turnaround possible no matter which option you choose — online, drop-off, or mobile pickup. Every order flows through the same Tallahassee back office and the same in-person FL DOS filing. The only thing that changes is how the documents reach us and how they get back to you.
Most orders fall into one of these categories. Each has a different deadline, a different destination, and a different document set — but the same need for a fast, correctly filed apostille.
People claiming citizenship through ancestry — Italian (jure sanguinis), Polish, Irish, German, Portuguese, or Spanish — typically need three to five apostilled documents: their own birth certificate, marriage certificate, and sometimes parents' or grandparents' Florida-issued documents.
The full application takes 18 months or longer at the consulate, so applicants almost always need apostilles done early to begin the review. Our 3+ document bundle pricing fits this workflow naturally.
People buying property in Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, or anywhere in Latin America need apostilled powers of attorney, marriage certificates, and identity declarations to close.
Foreign closings operate on tight schedules — often requiring documents within 7–10 days. Five-to-seven-day turnaround keeps deals on track. Many destination countries also require certified translations; we can refer you to a partner translator.
Applying for work visas, employment-based residency, or professional licensure abroad typically requires an apostilled FDLE background check, marriage certificate (for spouse visas), diploma, or professional credentials.
Common destinations: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, and most of Europe. The apostilled FDLE check carries a 90-day validity window for most programs, so timing matters. Five-to-seven-day turnaround keeps applications on schedule.
Relocating for retirement, work, or family reasons typically requires apostilled birth certificates, marriage certificates, FDLE background checks, and sometimes diplomas or professional licenses depending on the destination.
Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, and most Latin American countries require comprehensive document packages for residency applications. We process the whole packet in a single order — typically with the 3+ bundle.
Students pursuing graduate study abroad — Spain, Germany, France, the UK, China, South Korea — need apostilled diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates for admissions and visa applications.
Most international universities require apostilled academic credentials before admission is finalized. We work with documents from any Florida-issued institution or any document properly notarized by a Florida notary.
Marrying overseas typically requires apostilled birth certificates for both partners, FDLE background checks, and a notarized affidavit of marital status — sometimes called a "single status" or "no impediment" affidavit.
Italy, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and most of Latin America require this packet. We process the full set together. The affidavit must be notarized first; the other documents go through as-is.
The FDLE Florida criminal history check is one of the most-requested apostille documents. Countries requesting it include China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and most European Schengen-area nations for work and residency visas.
The apostilled FDLE check is valid for 90 days for most visa programs. We process it alongside any other Florida documents you need for the same application.
Hear directly from people who used My Florida Apostille for citizenship applications, visa documents, and international transactions.
Any Florida-issued or Florida-notarized document may be authenticated by the Florida Department of State. The most common categories we process:
| Document Type | Typical Use | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Required for citizenship applications, residency, marriage abroad. Hospital "souvenir" certificates do not qualify. | 5–7 days |
| Marriage Certificate | For dual citizenship, spouse visas, foreign residency applications, and marriage validity in foreign jurisdictions. | 5–7 days |
| Death Certificate | Required for estate administration, probate, and inheritance proceedings in foreign countries. | 5–7 days |
| Divorce Decree | Certified copy from the Florida court of issuance. Required for remarriage or status verification abroad. | 5–7 days |
| FDLE Background Check | Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal history. Required by many countries for visas, work permits, and immigration. Valid 90 days from issuance for most programs. | 5–7 days |
| Diploma | Original Florida diploma from a high school, college, or university — for overseas employment, professional licensure, or graduate study. Must have original signatures and the institution's seal, and be notarized by the registrar or a Florida notary. | 5–7 days |
| Transcript | Sealed certified academic transcript from a Florida educational institution. Must be a certified original (not a student copy), with the seal unbroken and a notary acknowledgment attached. | 5–7 days |
| Florida Notarized Documents | Any document notarized in Florida by a Florida-commissioned notary — powers of attorney, articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, sworn affidavits, declarations, foreign-language documents. Must be the original document (not a photocopy), with a full notarial certificate in English (acknowledgment or jurat), notary signature, stamp, and seal. | 5–7 days |
Multiple documents to apostille? See bundle pricing →
Florida DOS only accepts certified originals with the right markings. Compare your document to these examples before you ship. The three most common documents we apostille — birth certificates, marriage certificates, and FDLE background checks — are pinned at the top.
Certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or a county vital records office.
Certified copy from the Florida Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage was registered.
Original Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal History Information report.
Certified copy of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage from the Florida court that issued it.
Certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or the county where the death was registered.
Original diploma from a Florida educational institution — high school, college, or university — notarized by the institution's registrar or a Florida notary.
Sealed certified academic transcript from a Florida educational institution, notarized for apostille.
Powers of attorney, affidavits, business documents, foreign-language documents, sworn statements — any document notarized in Florida by a Florida-commissioned notary.
Give us a call before you ship. We'd rather answer your questions upfront than have your document rejected at the Florida DOS counter.
A short explanation of the document, its history, and why every foreign country requires one before accepting U.S. paperwork.
An apostille is a certificate of authentication issued by a designated state authority that verifies the legitimacy of a public document for international use. Created by the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961, the apostille replaces the older multi-step consular legalization process and is recognized in all 125+ Hague Convention member states without further authentication.
In Florida, apostilles are issued exclusively by the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee — there is no county-level or local apostille office. Documents originating outside Florida must apply through their issuing state's Secretary of State, and federal documents are authenticated separately in Washington, D.C., outside the scope of our service.
Common reasons people need a Florida apostille: applying for dual citizenship through ancestry, registering a marriage abroad, finalizing real estate transactions in Latin America, enrolling children in foreign schools, obtaining foreign work visas, opening international business entities, completing inheritance and estate matters, and immigration paperwork in non-U.S. jurisdictions.
If your document was issued by the State of Florida — or notarized by a Florida notary — we can apostille it. It doesn't matter where you live. Ship to our Tallahassee office from anywhere in the country.
Living in Florida and need a Florida document apostilled? Skip the drive and the mail-in wait. Ship to us via FedEx with our pre-paid label and we'll have it back to you in 5–7 business days.
Need a Florida-issued document apostilled but you live in another state? Same service. Ship from anywhere in the U.S. to our Tallahassee office. Return shipment goes to any U.S. address you specify at checkout — we don't ship internationally.
There are exactly four ways to apostille a Florida document. Three of them cost you significantly more time, money, or both. Ours gives you three convenient paths to the same result.
| DIY by Mail to FL DOS |
Drive to Tallahassee |
Other Apostille Services |
My Florida Apostille | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total turnaround | 5–7 weeks | Same day (after the drive) | 6–10 business days | 5–7 business days |
| You complete the application | Yes — get it wrong, get rejected | Yes — completed at the counter | Sometimes | No — we complete it |
| In-person filing | No — mailed in | Yes — by you | Varies by provider | Yes — by us |
| Shipping included | No | N/A | Often extra | FedEx or in-person — your choice |
| State fee included | $10 you pay separately | $10 you pay separately | Sometimes | Yes |
| Rejection protection | ~10–15% reject rate | Some at counter | Varies | Pre-submission review |
| Total cost (1 document) | $10–$25 + 5–7 weeks of waiting | $10 + gas + a full day of driving | $199–$299 + shipping often extra | $190 FedEx + state fee included |
| What you do | Write a check, mail, wait, hope | Drive 8+ hours round trip | Fill out forms, mail to them | Order online, drop off, or schedule pickup |
Five to seven business days. State fee and shipping included. Application form completed for you. Real Florida specialists on the phone if anything comes up. Choose the option that fits your life.
Last updated: May 12, 2026
My Florida Apostille ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, how we use it, and what choices you have.
When you place an order, we collect: your name, email address, phone number, return shipping address, the type and number of documents you're ordering, the destination country, and any notes you include with your order. We also receive payment information indirectly through Stripe, our payment processor — we never see or store your full card number.
When you visit our website, we collect standard analytics data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs. This data is used to improve the site and is not tied to your personal identity.
We share your information only with the third-party service providers necessary to fulfill your order:
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your data with marketers or advertisers.
You ship physical documents to our office for processing. We treat your original documents as confidential and store them securely until they are filed with the Florida Department of State. We do not retain copies of your documents after the apostille is returned to you.
We retain order records (name, email, order details) for seven years to comply with tax and business record requirements. You may request deletion of your data at any time by emailing [email protected], subject to our legal retention obligations.
Our website uses minimal cookies for basic functionality and analytics. We do not use advertising cookies or tracking pixels from third-party ad networks.
You have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected] or (850) 900-3443.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent changes were made. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
For privacy questions, contact: [email protected]
Last updated: May 12, 2026
By using myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before placing an order.
My Florida Apostille is an independent document service that facilitates apostille processing through the Florida Department of State on behalf of customers. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Florida Department of State, the U.S. Department of State, or any government agency. We are a private business providing convenience services.
You agree to:
Our standard turnaround is five to seven business days from the moment we receive your documents at our office. This timeline depends on third-party factors outside our control, including FedEx transit times and the Florida Department of State's processing schedule. We are not liable for delays caused by carriers, state offices, weather, holidays, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
If the Florida Department of State rejects your document, we will contact you within one business day to discuss options. Some rejections can be resolved same-day at the counter; others require new documents from the issuing agency. Rejections do not entitle you to a refund of the state filing fee or our service fee, because both the fee and the labor have been performed.
Documents shipped via FedEx are insured up to $100 by default. For irreplaceable documents, you may purchase additional FedEx Declared Value coverage at the time of drop-off. We are not liable for loss or damage during transit beyond FedEx's published insurance coverage.
Payment is due at the time of order placement and is processed by Stripe. Refunds are governed by our separate Refund Policy.
All content on myfloridaapostille.com, including text, graphics, logos, and design, is the property of My Florida Apostille and protected by U.S. copyright law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim related to our services is limited to the amount you paid us for the order in question. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost opportunities, missed deadlines, or visa application denials.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Leon County, Florida.
We may update these Terms at any time. The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.
For questions about these Terms: [email protected]
Last updated: May 12, 2026
We want every customer to be satisfied. Because our service involves third-party fees and irreversible work performed on your behalf, refunds depend on when you cancel.
To request a refund, contact us by:
Include your order number (from your confirmation email) and a brief explanation. We will respond within one business day.
Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method. Your bank or card issuer may take additional time to display the refund.
If your documents are damaged or lost in transit by FedEx, FedEx insurance applies (default $100, or up to the Declared Value coverage you purchased). We will work with you to file a FedEx claim. Our service fee is non-refundable in these cases because the loss occurred outside our control.
If you have questions about our refund policy before placing an order, please contact us — we'd rather answer questions upfront than handle refunds later.
