How to Apostille a U.S. Birth Certificate for Marriage Abroad

What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is a certificate issued by a U.S. state or federal authority that makes a document legally valid for use in another country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

If you’re presenting a U.S. birth certificate for official use abroad — such as for marriage registration, immigration, or dual nationality — you will likely need an apostille.

Learn more about apostille requirements on the U.S. Department of State website.

Why You Need One for Marriage Abroad

Many countries require U.S. citizens to submit proof of birth, identity, and legal capacity to marry. A certified copy of your birth certificate, plus an apostille, ensures the foreign country can legally recognize the document.

In most cases, you’ll also be asked for:

• A single status affidavit (also known as a Certificate of No Impediment)

• A certified translation of all documents into the official language of the country where you’re marrying

Without these steps, your marriage could be delayed or denied by local civil authorities.

How to Get a Birth Certificate Apostilled (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Obtain a Certified Copy of Your U.S. Birth Certificate

• Request it from the state or county where you were born

• Make sure it’s a long-form or “official” version — not a hospital souvenir

Step 2: Confirm the Apostille Authority

• Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document

• Each state has its own process, forms, and fees

Step 3: Submit Your Apostille Request

You’ll need to:

• Fill out the state’s apostille request form

• Pay the required fee (varies by state)

• Provide the original or certified birth certificate

• Include a self-addressed stamped envelope or courier label for return

Prefer not to handle this alone?
→ Use our secure apostille submission form

What to Do If You’re Not in the U.S.

If you're living or traveling abroad and need to apostille your birth certificate, the process becomes more complex — but totally doable.

Here’s what to do:

1. Let a facilitator handle it for you
   We retrieve your certified copy, request the apostille from the issuing state, and securely ship it to your location abroad.

2. Remote Online Notarization (RON)
   If your destination country also requires a single status affidavit, we offer remote notarization, valid for apostille in states like Missouri and Texas.

3. Certified Translation
   We coordinate certified human translations — especially useful for countries like Italy, Spain, or Mexico.

Ready to make your paperwork stress-free?
→ Explore our full services here

Download the U.S. Marriage Abroad Checklist

Want a simple guide to all the documents you'll likely need — and how to get them?

📥 Download our free checklist here

Need help? We assist U.S. citizens abroad with:

• Apostille facilitation

• Certified translations

• Remote notarization

• Vital record retrieval

→ Start your request here or book a consult