My Florida Apostille
Diploma → Germany
My Florida Apostille
Diploma → Germany
A Florida-issued diploma heading to Germany needs to be authenticated through the apostille process before German authorities will accept it. The apostille is the international standard set by the 1961 Hague Convention for authenticating foreign documents — and Germany has been a member since 1966, so the Florida apostille is the only authentication required (no consular legalization).
The Florida Department of State in Tallahassee is the only authority that can apostille a Florida-issued diploma. The state's standard mail-in processing time is 5–7 weeks. Our service walks every document in person to the FL DOS apostille counter — 5–7 business days from the moment we receive your diploma.
For Germany-bound submissions specifically, additional requirements apply beyond the apostille itself. See the next section for German-specific requirements — translation, document freshness, consular submission — that often catch applicants by surprise.
Germany is a Hague Convention member since 1966, so a Florida apostille is the appropriate authentication. German consulates require certified German translation by a sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer) recognized in Germany — Florida translators are generally not accepted unless they also hold German certification. Plan the translation step after the apostille is applied, and budget for the additional cost.
German Standesämter (civil registry offices) have specific document freshness rules: birth and marriage certificates must typically be dated within six months for marriage applications, and FBI/FDLE background checks must be dated within three months for visa applications. The German Consulate in Miami publishes the current requirements on their official website and updates them periodically.
These are the most common Germany-bound document situations we see.
Apostilled FDLE/FBI background checks, diplomas, and birth certificates for the Blue Card and standard work visa applications.
German citizens or residents sponsoring a U.S. spouse need apostilled marriage certificates plus the spouse's birth certificate and background check.
The Standesamt requires apostilled birth certificates and single-status affidavits dated within six months.
Descendants of Germans who lost citizenship under Article 116(2) need apostilled birth, marriage, and death certificates documenting the ancestral line.
German recognition of U.S. divorce decrees requires apostilled, translated final judgments.
Apostilled diplomas and transcripts for German university admission, including credential evaluation through Anabin.
All three options end the same way — your apostilled documents back in your hands in 5–7 business days, filed in person at the Florida Department of State.
Drop off in person at 500 S Australian Ave, Suite 6088B. Pay at the counter, pick up the finished apostille at the same office.
Palm Beach & Broward Counties: we come to your home or office for the pickup, file at FL DOS, and deliver the apostille back. Just $30 more per order.
Order from anywhere in the U.S. We email you a pre-paid FedEx QR code — drop your envelope at any FedEx location.
The same procedure for every order — whichever option you choose.
Choose drop-off, mobile pickup, or online — whichever fits your week. Pay $190 per document up front (online) or at the appointment.
Hand them to us, give them to our pickup specialist, or drop your FedEx envelope. Same destination either way.
Our Tallahassee back-office team walks your documents in person to the Florida Department of State counter.
We return the finished apostille the same way you sent it. 5–7 business days, every order.
$190 per document. 5–7 business days. State filing fee and shipping included. Filed in person at the Florida Department of State.
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.