Most Common Documents Miami Residents Need Apostilled

July 22, 2026

Florida Apostille Service for Miami Residents: Skip the 8+ Hour Drive to Tallahassee for These Common Apostille Documents

If you live in Miami, Florida and need a Florida apostille, you may be surprised to learn that Florida apostilles are only issued by the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee. That means obtaining an apostille yourself can require an 8 to 9-hour drive each way, overnight lodging, or waiting weeks for mail processing.

Fortunately, you don’t have to make the trip.

Our fast Florida Apostille Service allows Miami residents to mail their documents directly to our Tallahassee office. We personally hand-deliver qualifying documents to the Florida Secretary of State, helping you avoid the long drive while providing faster processing than mailing documents directly to the state.

Miami is one of the most internationally connected cities in the United States. Many Miami residents have family members, business interests, property, educational opportunities, or legal responsibilities in other countries. Because of these international connections, documents issued in Florida frequently need to be presented to foreign governments, universities, courts, employers, and financial institutions.

Before a Florida document can be officially recognized in another country, it may need an apostille.

An apostille is a certificate that verifies the authenticity of the signature and authority appearing on a public or notarized document. Apostilles are generally used when documents are being presented in countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. For countries that are not members of the convention, a different authentication or legalization process may be required.

The specific requirements depend on the document, where it was issued, and the country where it will be used.

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Here are some of the most common documents Miami residents need apostilled.

1. Birth Certificates

Birth certificates are among the most frequently apostilled documents. A Miami resident may need an apostilled birth certificate when applying for:

Dual citizenship
Foreign residency
A visa
Marriage in another country
International inheritance
Enrollment in a foreign school
Immigration benefits for a family member
Recognition of citizenship by descent

For example, someone applying for Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Colombian, or another form of citizenship by descent may be asked to provide an apostilled copy of their birth certificate.

A standard photocopy of a Florida birth certificate cannot simply be notarized and apostilled. Florida vital records generally must be obtained through the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics and include the appropriate signature from the State Registrar. Obtaining the record and receiving the apostille can therefore involve two separate steps.

The issuing state is also important. A Florida apostille can only be attached to a document issued or properly notarized in Florida. If you were born in New York, California, Texas, or another state, your birth certificate will normally need to be apostilled through that state—not through the Florida Secretary of State.

Rather than driving from Miami to Tallahassee to obtain your Florida apostille, simply ship your certified birth certificate to our Tallahassee office. We will personally deliver it to the Florida Department of State and return it to you once processing is complete.

2. Marriage Certificates and Marriage Licenses

Marriage records may need to be apostilled when a married couple is moving overseas, applying for residency, updating a legal name, completing an immigration matter, or registering their marriage in another country.

Common reasons include:

Applying for a spousal visa
Registering a U.S. marriage abroad
Applying for dual citizenship
Purchasing property as a married couple
Adding a spouse to foreign health or employment benefits
Completing international inheritance proceedings
Updating identification or financial records

The correct version of the marriage record is essential. A decorative marriage certificate or photocopy may not be acceptable. Depending on how the record was issued, you may need a certified copy from the appropriate Clerk of the Circuit Court or a qualifying record from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Florida documents certified by a Clerk of the Circuit Court, including certain marriage records, may be submitted for apostille processing when they contain the proper clerk certification, stamp, and seal. Before requesting your record, check whether the foreign authority requires a marriage certificate, marriage license, long-form record, or recently issued certified copy.

Skip the trip across Florida. Our Tallahassee apostille courier service can process your certified marriage certificate and return it quickly.

3. Divorce Decrees and Dissolution of Marriage Records

A divorce decree may need an apostille when someone plans to remarry abroad or must prove their current marital status to a foreign government.

Apostilled divorce documents may also be requested for:

Dual citizenship applications
International adoption
Overseas property transactions
Immigration proceedings
Pension or survivor benefits
Foreign court cases
Child custody matters
Estate administration

Divorce records normally must be certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court that maintains the case. A copy downloaded from an online court portal may not include the original certification required for apostille processing. Miami-Dade residents should carefully review the destination country’s instructions. Some authorities require the complete final judgment, while others only require a certified certificate or extract confirming the dissolution of the marriage.

There’s no reason to spend a full day traveling to Tallahassee. Mail your certified divorce decree to us, and we’ll handle the Florida apostille process for you.

4. Death Certificates

Death certificates are commonly apostilled when a family must handle legal or financial matters in another country.

An apostilled death certificate may be required to:

Settle an international estate
Transfer property located overseas
Claim a foreign pension
Close a foreign bank account
Collect life insurance benefits
Update citizenship or civil registry records
Complete international probate proceedings
Arrange transportation or burial matters

As with birth and marriage records, a Florida death certificate usually must be obtained in an acceptable certified format through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certain death records may only be released to eligible applicants, and records containing the cause of death can have additional access restrictions.

Because international estate matters are often time-sensitive, it is important to verify the required version before placing the order.

5. Diplomas, Degrees and School Transcripts

Miami students, graduates, teachers, and professionals may need apostilled educational documents when studying or working abroad.

Frequently requested documents include:

High school diplomas
College degrees
University transcripts
Professional training certificates
Enrollment verification letters
Teaching credentials
Letters confirming graduation
Academic records used for foreign credential evaluations

These documents may be needed for admission to an international university, a foreign employment contract, a work visa, professional licensing, or recognition of an American degree.

Educational documents require special preparation. For Florida public schools and universities, the signature of the registrar or issuing official may need to be notarized when the record is issued. A student generally cannot print an unofficial transcript and have a notary certify it afterward.

Private school and university documents may follow a different process. Before ordering the apostille, ask the receiving institution whether it requires the original diploma, a certified copy, an official transcript, or a notarized statement from the registrar.

6. Criminal Background Checks

Background checks are commonly required for people moving, studying, working, volunteering, adopting, or applying for residency in another country.

Examples include:

Florida criminal history reports
Local police clearance letters
Fingerprint-based background checks
FBI background checks
Good-conduct certificates
Employer-required screening documents

The correct apostille process depends on which agency issued the report.

A Florida-issued document may qualify for processing through the Florida Secretary of State when it contains an acceptable Florida official’s signature or has been properly notarized. An FBI background check, however, is a federal document and generally follows the federal authentication process through the U.S. Department of State rather than the Florida apostille process. Federal and state documents should not be submitted through the same authority.

Always confirm whether the destination country requires an FBI report, a Florida report, a Miami-Dade police clearance, or more than one type of background check.

7. Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney allows one person to act on behalf of another. Miami residents frequently need powers of attorney apostilled when authorizing someone to handle a matter overseas.

A foreign power of attorney may be used to:

Buy or sell property
Manage a bank account
Complete an inheritance
Represent someone in court
Sign business documents
Register a marriage or divorce
Handle tax matters
Manage family property
Complete an immigration procedure

Powers of attorney are typically private documents rather than government-issued records. To qualify for a Florida apostille, the document usually must be signed and properly notarized by a commissioned Florida notary.

The wording of the notarial certificate matters. The Florida Department of State requires a complete notarial statement in English. Missing language, an expired notary commission, an incomplete seal, or an incorrect notarization can cause the document to be rejected.

The attorney, notary, or foreign authority handling the transaction should also confirm whether witnesses, translations, photographs, fingerprints, or consular forms are required.

8. Affidavits and Sworn Statements

Affidavits are written statements that a person signs under oath or affirmation. They are frequently used when no government-issued certificate exists for the fact someone needs to prove.

Common examples include:

Single-status affidavits
Affidavits of residence
Affidavits of identity
Name discrepancy statements
Financial support affidavits
Parental consent documents
Letters of invitation
Statements concerning family relationships
Permission for a child to travel
Declarations used in foreign legal proceedings

For apostille purposes, these documents generally must be correctly notarized in Florida. The notarization confirms the identity of the signer and the performance of the notarial act; it does not certify that every statement in the document is factually true.

Do not sign an affidavit before meeting with the notary unless you have been specifically instructed to do so. The notary may need to witness the signature or administer an oath.

9. Adoption, Custody and Parental Consent Documents

International adoption and child-related matters often require several apostilled documents.

Families may be asked to provide:

Adoption decrees
Home-study documents
Medical statements
Financial affidavits
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Background checks
Custody orders
Parental consent forms
Letters authorizing international travel

Court-issued records normally require certified copies from the appropriate court clerk. Private statements, medical letters, and consent forms may need notarization before they can be apostilled.

Because international adoption and custody cases can have strict document requirements, families should follow the instructions provided by their attorney, adoption agency, court, consulate, or foreign government.

10. Business and Corporate Documents

Miami businesses frequently conduct transactions throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and other international markets. Corporate records may need apostilles before a company can open an overseas office, establish a foreign bank account, sign a contract, participate in litigation, or prove that it is legally registered.

Common corporate documents include:

Articles of Incorporation
Articles of Organization
Certificates of Status
Certified corporate filings
Board resolutions
Commercial agreements
Corporate powers of attorney
Certificates of incumbency
Authorization letters
Business licenses

Documents maintained by the Florida Division of Corporations may require an original certified copy or Certificate of Status before the apostille can be issued. The certification and apostille can involve separate requests and fees.

Privately created business documents may instead need to be signed and notarized correctly before submission.

Common Apostille Mistakes Miami Residents Should Avoid

One of the biggest mistakes is sending a document to the wrong government authority. Florida can only apostille qualifying Florida documents. Documents issued in another state generally must be processed by that state, while federal documents are handled through the federal authentication system.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Florida Apostille in Miami?

Mailing directly to the Florida Secretary of State may take weeks– and you might just get a rejection letter back after the long wait.
Your courier service hand-delivers documents to the Florida Secretary of State.
Customers avoid the 8+ hour drive and lengthy mail delays.

You Do Not Have to Travel From Miami to Tallahassee

If you live in Miami, there is no need to spend an entire day driving across Florida just to obtain an apostille.

The Florida Secretary of State is the only competent authority that issues Florida apostilles, and walk-in apostille requests are handled at the Division of Corporations office in Tallahassee. The state does not offer its own expedited mail service, although walk-in requests can often be completed more quickly.

For someone living in Miami, traveling to Tallahassee can mean driving hundreds of miles, purchasing a flight, renting a hotel room, or relying on standard mail processing.

A Notary On The Go Florida helps Miami residents avoid that trip. Our Tallahassee-based Florida Apostille Courier Service hand-delivers qualifying documents directly to the Florida Secretary of State, helping Miami residents save time, travel expenses, and unnecessary delays. Documents can be sent to the company’s Tallahassee office, where they are hand-delivered to the Florida Secretary of State for processing.

Before sending your documents, the team can help identify whether they appear prepared for the Florida apostille process. This can reduce the likelihood of delays caused by incomplete notarizations, incorrect document versions, or submission to the wrong agency.

Whether you’re applying for dual citizenship, getting married overseas, accepting an international job, or expanding your business abroad, you don’t need to drive from Miami to Tallahassee to obtain a Florida apostille. Contact us to request an apostille estimate and learn how to send your documents from Miami to the Tallahassee office for processing.