What a Florida authentication certificate is
An apostille only works between countries that have joined the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For every other country, the Florida Department of State issues a different certificate. Its own FAQ calls these "notarial certificates or certifications", and its notary procedures page calls it a "Certificate of Notarial Authority". Whatever the name, it does the same job as an apostille: it confirms that the signature and seal of the Florida notary or official on your document are genuine (Florida Department of State FAQ).
On our side, nothing changes. Same request form, same $10 state fee, same counter in Tallahassee, same in-person filing, same 5–7 business days door to door. We list the destination country on the request, and the state issues the right certificate for it.
One rule matters more than any other: a Florida document going to a non-Hague country needs this Florida certificate first. None of the later steps can start until the state has authenticated the Florida signature.
The two steps after ours, which we don't handle
Let's be straight with you, because this is where people get surprised. For a non-Hague country, the Florida certificate is the first link in a chain, not the last. After it, most countries require two more steps:
- Authentication by the U.S. Department of State of the Florida certificate.
- Legalization by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the U.S., which confirms the chain for use in that country.
We do not handle or arrange either of those steps. We file your document in Tallahassee, get the Florida certificate, and send the authenticated document back to you so you can continue. From there, you work directly with the offices involved.
Requirements also differ by country and sometimes by document. A few real examples from official sources:
- Egypt: the consular section of Egypt's embassy in Washington lists Florida in its jurisdiction. Its published procedure requires the U.S. Department of State step for court-issued records and county-issued marriage and divorce records. Educational certificates go through Egypt's cultural office first. Egypt details.
- United Arab Emirates: the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says documents issued abroad must also be attested through the ministry's website after the embassy step. UAE details.
- Qatar: educational certificates must come from a university on the Qatari Ministry of Education's recognized list. Qatar details.
Before you order, read the embassy's or consulate's instructions for your exact document. If the embassy needs a specific kind of notarization, or a record issued within a certain number of months, it's far cheaper to fix that before the Florida step than after.
Is this the right service for you?
Check the list of parties on the Hague Conference status table before you pay anyone. Here's how to read your situation:
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Florida document, destination country not on the Hague list | This service: Florida authentication certificate, then the next two steps on your own |
| Florida document, destination country is on the Hague list | A regular Florida apostille, same price, and no further steps |
| Document issued or notarized in another state | That state's authentication office. Florida can only authenticate Florida notaries and officials |
| You want one company to handle the entire legalization chain | Not us. We do the Florida step only |
Non-Hague examples (not parties as of October 2026): United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Taiwan, Cuba and Haiti.
Recently joined, so they now take apostilles: Saudi Arabia (in force December 7, 2022), Pakistan (March 9, 2023), China (November 7, 2023), Canada (January 11, 2024), Bangladesh (March 30, 2025), Algeria (July 9, 2026) and Viet Nam (September 11, 2026). Thailand has acceded, but the Convention doesn't take effect there until February 28, 2027. Until then, Thailand still needs the non-Hague route.
What people usually send for non-Hague countries
The documents are the same ones people apostille. Only the destination changes. The ones we see most for non-Hague countries:
- Diplomas and transcripts for jobs and licensing abroad. A public school or university record has to be notarized by the school when it's issued. Diploma details.
- Marriage, birth, and divorce records for residence visas and family sponsorship. These must be fresh certified copies from the issuing office. Vital records guide.
- FDLE background checks and sheriff's clearance letters for work permits. Ask for the notarized version when you request it. FDLE details.
- Powers of attorney and affidavits for property, banking, and family matters abroad. Power of attorney details.
- Corporate records such as certificates of status and articles, for opening a branch or registering an agent abroad. Certificate of status details.
If one record is wrong, the Florida step has to be repeated. Then every step after it does too.
How a non-Hague order works with us
The Florida step works exactly like an apostille order.
Confirm the country and the document
Make sure the destination isn't a Hague party and read the embassy's or consulate's requirements for your document.
Get the document Florida-ready
You need an original certified copy of a public record or an original Florida notarization with a complete notarial certificate. The same rules apply as for an apostille.
Order online or book an in-person appointment
Order online — after we review your documents, FedEx emails you a prepaid label, or bring it to our West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa or Clearwater office by appointment, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Tell us the destination country.
We file in person in Tallahassee
We review the document and file it at the Florida Department of State. The state issues the authentication certificate for your country.
We send it back to you
Return shipping inside the U.S. is included. International delivery is $100 flat per order, but since the next steps happen in the U.S., a U.S. address is usually the practical choice.
You take the next two steps
Authentication by the U.S. Department of State, then legalization by the embassy or consulate. We don't handle, arrange, or refer these steps.
Checklist for a clean Florida filing
Non-Hague documents get rejected in Tallahassee for the same reasons apostilles do. See why Florida apostilles get rejected.
- Birth and death certificates issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a county health department and signed by the current State Registrar. We don't accept certificates certified before 2014, so order a fresh copy from VitalChek or the Bureau
- Court records (judgments, divorce decrees, name changes) certified by the Clerk of Court, either wet-ink or the clerk's official e-certification
- Notarized documents with a full Florida notarial certificate in English: venue, date, signer's name, ID type, notary signature and seal, and the physical presence or online notarization box
- Public school and university transcripts or diplomas notarized by the school when issued
- Corporate documents as original certified copies or certificates of status from the Division of Corporations
- The destination country's name on your order
- The embassy's or consulate's requirements for your document, checked before you ship
Same price as an apostille
A Florida authentication costs the same as an apostille: $220 for one document, $380 for two, and $160 each for three or more. That includes the state fee, the request form, in-person filing, and FedEx shipping both ways inside the U.S. International return delivery is $100 flat per order.
What the price doesn't include: the U.S. Department of State authentication and the embassy or consulate legalization. Those offices set their own fees and timelines, so check with them directly. Need a document notarized first? Add online notarization to your order.