Quick answer
Mexico is where a Florida translation most often falls short. One Florida apostille is all the U.S. side needs — $220, 5–7 business days.
- Issued by
- The translator, signing an affidavit of accuracy before a Florida notary who is not the translator.
- Florida state fee
- $10 — included in $220
- Route
- Apostille only — Hague member since 1995
- Online notarization
- Available as an add-on
- Consulate serving Florida
- Consulate General of Mexico in Miami
- Translation
- Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida.
How a Florida certified translation is used in Mexico
Mexico is where a Florida translation most often falls short. When a Mexican court, notario or Registro Civil asks for a translation, it usually means a perito traductor authorized by a state's Tribunal Superior de Justicia, and a Florida translation, even one certified, notarized and apostilled, may not be accepted in its place. There are real exceptions: Mexican consulates in the U.S. generally don't ask for translations of English documents, and SEP revalidation accepts a simple translation. Ask the receiving office before paying for a Florida translation with its own apostille.
Getting a certified translation Florida will apostille
The complete translation bound to the translator's affidavit (name, languages, document translated, statement of accuracy and competence), sworn before a different Florida notary with a complete jurat. As a rule, the translation is certified, notarized and apostilled in Florida so it carries its own apostille, while the original document gets its own apostille first.
Ask the receiving authority whether it accepts a translation made in the U.S.; some countries may also or instead require their own sworn or official translator (for example, a traductor jurado in Spain, a sworn translator in Germany or a perito traductor in Mexico). The translator can sign through our online notarization add-on: $40 for the first document ($10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee) and $20 for each additional document. Translation and notarization fees are not included in our $220, and we don't translate.
State fee for this document: $10 — included in our price. Full details on the certified translation apostille page.
Who receives it in Mexico — and translation
In Mexico, Florida documents go to the Registro Civil of each state (inserción de actas extranjeras), notarios públicos (property, fideicomisos, sucesiones, companies), family courts, the SEP (revalidación de estudios) and the National Migration Institute (INM). In the U.S., the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami registers births for Mexican nationality, grants poderes notariales and issues residence visas; its checklists generally require apostille and translation only for documents issued in a third country.
Our general rule is a translation certified by the translator, notarized by a different notary and apostilled in Florida. Mexico is the big exception: notarios, courts and Registros Civiles usually require a perito traductor authorized by a state Tribunal Superior de Justicia instead, done in Mexico after the apostille. Mexican consulates in the U.S. generally don't ask for a translation of English documents, and SEP revalidation accepts a simple translation.
Mexico has no single national expiry for apostilled documents; each notario, registry or consulate sets its own. Many want civil-status records and company certificates recently issued, so order fresh certified copies shortly before you send them to us.
Consular office serving Florida: Consulate General of Mexico in Miami.
Four steps, one week
Order online
Pick the document and destination country on the order form and pay by card. After we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label.
Send it — or sign online
Drop the envelope at any FedEx location. Not signed yet? Add online notarization and there is nothing to ship.
We file in person
We review it, then walk it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee for the apostille.
Returned to you
Back in 5–7 business days — anywhere in the U.S., or abroad for a flat $100.
Why certified translations get rejected
- Translator notarized their own affidavit
- Certificate of accuracy with no notarization
- Translation stapled to the certified original before it was apostilled
- Destination required its own sworn translator
What it costs for Mexico
$220 per document, $380 for two and $160 each for three or more — the state fee, request form, in-person filing in Tallahassee and FedEx shipping inside the U.S. are included. Shipping the finished apostille to Mexico is a flat $100 per order.
Not included: whatever the issuing office charges for the certified copy or certificate, and notarization (online notarization is $40 for the first document — $10 notarization fee + $30 technology platform fee — and $20 for each additional one).
