How much is a Florida apostille?

Florida charges $10 per apostille or certification. Notarization (if required) and shipping are additional. Confirm the current fee on the Department of State's page.

How fast can I get a Florida apostille?

Mail-in requests are typically processed within a few business days plus mail time; in-person service in Tallahassee can be same-day. A local apostille service can also handle the trip for you.

Does Florida apostille FBI background checks?

No. An FBI background check is a federal document and must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, not by Florida.

South · FL

The Sunshine State

How to get an apostille in Florida

In Florida, apostilles are issued by the Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Florida apostille looks like.

Capital: Tallahassee
Governor (2026): Ron DeSantis
State flower: Orange Blossom
State bird: Northern Mockingbird

Apostille signed by Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section)

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Florida process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in Florida

01
Confirm the document is Florida-issued or notarized by a Florida notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Florida Department of State authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For vital records, obtain a certified copy from the Florida Department of Health (Bureau of Vital Statistics).
04
Complete the apostille/certification cover letter and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person to the Apostille Section in Tallahassee with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive the apostille (Hague countries) or certification (non-Hague countries).

Florida apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section)
State fee	$10 per document
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 2–4 business days plus mail time; in-person same-day at the Tallahassee office.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Florida Department of State, Apostille Section, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800 (verify the current address online). Include the $10-per-document fee, destination country, and a prepaid return envelope.

Source: Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section) — https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-certifications/Draft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Florida

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from FL Vital Statistics)
Powers of attorney, affidavits, and single-status documents
Diplomas and transcripts from Florida institutions
Corporate documents — articles, good-standing certificates, resolutions

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by Florida.

Specimen

What a Florida apostille looks like

A Florida apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section) as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section)
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for Florida. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Florida apostille FAQ

How much is a Florida apostille?: Florida charges $10 per apostille or certification. Notarization (if required) and shipping are additional. Confirm the current fee on the Department of State's page.
How fast can I get a Florida apostille?: Mail-in requests are typically processed within a few business days plus mail time; in-person service in Tallahassee can be same-day. A local apostille service can also handle the trip for you.
Does Florida apostille FBI background checks?: No. An FBI background check is a federal document and must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, not by Florida.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Florida apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Florida Department of State — Division of Corporations (Apostille & Notary Section) via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

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