If you plan to use your U.S. birth certificate abroad, then you must check whether you need to get an apostille for the document prior to its submission in the country of interest (government, court, immigration office, employer, school, etc.). To apostille a birth certificate is to authenticate the signature, seal, and/or stamp on the birth certificate. The apostille will allow the birth certificate issued by the states within the U.S. to be accepted in the signatory countries of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
As there are differences between the states with regard to the requirements and procedures involved, the apostille may cause confusion for applicants. Generally, it means that a certified copy of the birth certificate should be requested first, then compliance with the authentication requirements should be examined, and then the application should be submitted to the respective state issuing organization.
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This guide provides you with information on how to apostille birth certificate in USA, where to apply for it, what documentation is needed, what fees are imposed, and the processing time.
What is a Birth Certificate Apostille?
An apostille refers to the certificate that is either in the form of a separate paper or attached to a qualifying public document in order for such document to receive recognition in a country that adheres to the Hague Apostille Convention.
U.S. birth certificate is a record of birth that is issued by a state or authorized body. If it is needed for use abroad, then the country of destination might require an apostille or some other way to confirm validity of the U.S. birth certificate. It should be noted that apostille does not mean that the data contained in the birth certificate are accurate. Instead, the authentication refers to getting confirmation of the authenticity of the signature, stamp, or authority that took part in making the document.
An illustration of how the system works is as follows: when someone is born in California and applies for his/her official document in one of the countries adhering to the Hague Apostille Convention, that person would need to obtain the certified birth certificate from the respective authority in California and then get it apostilled.
When is Apostille for Birth Certificate Required?
An apostille for birth certificate is required for most government procedures in countries outside the USA. Common situations include:
- Marriage abroad
- Immigration applications
- Citizenship applications
- Dual citizenship
- Residency applications
- Family-based immigration
- International adoption
- Foreign employment
- Establishing identity or family relationships
- Inheritance matters
- International legal proceedings
- Applying for benefits in another country
- Registering a birth or family relationship abroad
- Obtaining documents from a foreign government
- Education or professional licensing abroad
What Type of Birth Certificate is Required?
To get apostilled, the document must be an official certified copy of the birth certificate. You should not simply provide a photocopy of the document. You must obtain the official certified copy of the birth certificate from the vital records authority.
The precise requirements for the document must be checked according to the authority in the state that issued the document. This is because official requirements may vary depending upon the jurisdiction.
How to Get a Birth Certificate Apostilled in USA
To get your birth certificate apostilled in the US, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Get a Certified Birth Certificate
Request an official certified copy of the birth certificate from the concerned vital records authority.
Step 2: Check Where the Certificate was Issued
This is an important part of the application process. For instance, a birth certificate issued in California needs to follow the authentication or apostille process of California. If you live in New York now that does not mean you can get the birth certificate apostilled in New York.
Step 3: Submit to the State Authority
Submit the official certified copy to the Secretary of State for apostille.
Step 4: Get the Apostilled Document
Once the signature/seal is verified by the authority, then apostille will be attached or associated with the document.
How Much Does a Birth Certificate Apostille in USA Cost?
There are no specific fees applicable for apostille nationwide. Moreover, the complete cost may vary depending upon the state where the birth certificate was issued.
- Fee for Certified Copy: If you do not have an official certified copy, then you need to obtain one from the state vital statistics office. This typically costs around $15 to $30.
- State Government Fees: It generally costs between $1 to $25 per document to get a birth certificate apostilled.
How Long Does Apostille for Birth Certificate Take?
There is no nationwide standard processing time to get a birth certificate apostilled in USA. In addition, processing time may vary depending upon the specific state issuing the vital record. Having said that, on average, it can take around 3 working days to 3 weeks to get an apostille in USA.
Timeline can vary depending upon the following factors:
- State of issue
- Mail vs in person submission
- State processing workload
- Shipping time
Does the Birth Certificate Need to be Notarized?
The US Department of State cautions against getting original documents notarized. A birth certificate is an official vital record and getting it apostilled authenticates for use in any country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, there is no use of notarizing the birth certificate if you wish to get it apostilled.
Common Reasons Birth Certificate Apostilles are Rejected
There are many reasons that can get your application rejected. Some of these are:
- You submit a photocopy or uncertified copy of the birth certificate
- You submit the birth certificate to the wrong state for apostille
- Morphed or damaged seal or signature on the document
- Submitting wrong application form
- Damaged or unclear document
Birth Certificate Apostille for Use in India
An apostille is required for many government applications and official procedures in India. Some of these are:
- Indian Work Visa Applications
- Higher Education Admission
- Marriage-related Documentation
- Immigration-related Submissions
How Documitra Can Help
Getting a birth certificate apostille in USA can be confusing. This is where Documitra can help you. We can provide assistance with determining the correct authority for the apostille process and the overall application process. Moreover, we can also provide further support with documentation, Indian consular services and immigration services in the US.
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Q. Do I need to get my birth certificate apostilled in USA for use in India?
Yes, if you wish to use your birth certificate for any government application or official procedure in India, then you must get it apostilled in USA. What is more, getting it apostilled will authenticate it for international use across countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. Both US and India are part of the Hague Convention, therefore, getting a document apostilled in one country authenticates the document for use in another.
Q. Where do I apostille a birth certificate in USA?
Birth certificate is a state issued vital record. Therefore, to get a birth certificate apostille, you must submit the document to the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued.
Q. Can I apostille a birth certificate from another state in USA?
No, you cannot get your birth certificate apostilled from another state. Furthermore, it must be submitted to the Secretary of State office of the state where it was issued. For instance, if your birth certificate was issued in New York, then you must get it apostilled in New York. You cannot submit it to Illinois if you are living there.
Q. Do I need the original birth certificate for apostille in USA?
You must submit either the original or an official certified copy of the birth certificate to get it apostilled in USA. You can get the official certified copy from the state vital statistics office accordingly.
Q. Do I need to attest the birth certificate after the apostille?
No, there is no need for further authentication after the apostille. Because apostille itself is an authentication procedure which makes the document ready for use in any country part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Q. Can Documitra help me with Birth certificate apostille in USA?
Yes, we can help you with the birth certificate apostille in the US. What is more, we will help you with determining the correct authority for submission, document preparation and further support, increasing your chances of approval.
