Florida Secretary of State Apostille 518-956-5673

Self-Service Guide for Notarization and Authentication by the Florida Secretary of State

There are two types of authentication by the Secretary of State: Apostille and Certificate of Authentication. Apostille, also known as "Hague Authentication," can only be used within member countries of the Hague Convention. Since Chinese consulates are currently not part of the "Hague Convention member countries," only the "Certificate of Authentication" can be submitted to Chinese consulates in the United States.

If you don’t have time to handle it yourself, you can contact CHV for assistance. Add our contact or call our customer service at 1-518-956-5673 (US). We provide notarization and authentication services for personal or corporate documents from all 50 states in the U.S., including consular three-level authentication or Hague Authentication. Expedited services are available, with completion in as fast as 3 business days.

In-person office processing:
Division of Corporations
Clifton Building, Apostille Section
2661 Executive Center Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Mail-in processing:
Department of State
Division of Corporations
Apostille Certification
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Phone: 850-245-6945

Fee: $10–20, depending on your document
Pay by check or money order to the Department of State

Processing time: 5–7 business days.
Website: http://authories.dos.state.fl.us/notproc7.html

Reminders for Florida Notarization and Authentication

The office of Secretary of State Ken Detzner, with the assistance of the Division of Corporations, is authorized to issue Apostilles for documents in Florida.

Documents notarized by a Florida-appointed notary and certified as authentic by a Florida notary can receive an Apostille, provided they are written in English. Only documents notarized in Florida can be Apostilled in Tallahassee.

It is important to note that birth and death certificates issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, Florida, and signed by the current State Registrar C. Meade Grigg, are acceptable for Apostille. The following signatures are also acceptable for Apostille:

• C. Meade Grigg
• Oliver Board
• Charles Mahan
• Edward Williams

For Florida death certificates to receive an Apostille, note that the certificate must have been issued within the last 10 years.

Please note:

• Documents signed by local health officials are not eligible for Apostille.
• Commercial documents signed by the Secretary of State or competent authorities are eligible for Apostille.
• Automobile titles certified by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles are eligible for Apostille.

For Florida diplomas and transcripts issued by the University of Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, University of Miami, University of Central Florida, and Florida International University, the custodian of records at the school registrar’s office must sign a letter in front of a notary, stating that the transcript is an authentic original at the time of issuance, to be accepted for Apostille.

Please note that four types of notarial certificates can receive an Apostille:

• Certified copies.
• Oaths or affirmations.
• Certificates of personal capacity.
• Certificates of representative capacity.

Attached Sample