So you’re moving abroad with your spouse, or maybe applying for a visa, and someone just asked for an apostilled marriage certificate. If you’re sitting there wondering what the heck that means, you’re in the right place.
An apostille is basically a fancy stamp that proves your marriage certificate is real. Over 129 countries accept it, which beats the old system where you had to run around to multiple government offices for weeks. The process isn’t complicated once you know what you’re doing, but mess up one step and you’re back to square one.
What’s an Apostille, Really?
It’s an official certificate attached to your document that authenticates the signature and seal. The 1961 Hague Convention created this system so you don’t have to jump through a dozen hoops to prove your marriage is valid in another country.
The Difference That Actually Matters
Apostille = For 129 countries that signed the Hague Convention. One step. Done.
Embassy Legalization = For countries like UAE, China, or Vietnam that didn’t sign. Multiple steps. More time. More money.
Before you do anything, check if your destination country accepts apostilles at hcch.net. People often confuse apostille and authentication. They’re all different processes.
When Do You Actually Need This?
Most people need an apostilled marriage certificate for:
- Spouse visa applications (the most common reason)
- Moving abroad together
- Opening joint bank accounts overseas
- Changing your name on foreign documents
- International adoption
- Estate planning across borders
How to Get It Done (Step by Step)
Step 1: Order a Certified Copy
Your original wedding certificate won’t work. You need a fresh certified copy with an official seal from the county where you got married.
Where: County clerk’s office or vital records department
How: Most counties let you order online or by mail
Time: 1-3 weeks typically
State fees vary, but here’s what you’ll actually pay:
- California: Around $28 per copy
- Texas: Roughly $22 per copy
- Florida: About $20 per copy
- Most states: $10-$30 range
Pro tip: Order 2-3 copies. You might need extras for different applications.
Step 2: Check What Your Country Needs
Don’t skip this. Seriously.
Find out:
- Is the country part of the Hague Convention? (Check hcch.net)
- Do they need the document translated?
- When do they want the translation done (before or after the apostille)?
Call the embassy or the agency requesting your document. They’ll tell you exactly what they want.
Step 3: Submit for Apostille
Send your certified marriage certificate to the Secretary of State in the state where you got married (not where you live now).
If the whole process seems like too much or you’re working against a deadline, professionals can handle the entire submission for you. We work with couples on this regularly and can coordinate everything from ordering the certified copy to getting it apostilled and back to you.
State Apostille Fees (2025 rates):
| State | Fee | How Long It Takes |
| California | $20 | 2-4 weeks if you mail it |
| Colorado | $5 | 5-7 business days |
| Florida | $10 | 3-5 business days |
| Georgia | $5 | Same day if you go in person |
| Massachusetts | $6 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Ohio | $5 | 2-3 days |
| Washington | $15 | About a week |
For those who need documents handled faster, Florida apostille services can expedite the entire process including obtaining certified copies from any Florida county and handling notarization requirements if needed.
What to include when mailing:
- Your certified marriage certificate
- Payment (check or money order; most states don’t take cash by mail)
- Completed apostille request form (download from your state’s Secretary of State website)
- Prepaid return envelope
Rush service: Most states offer expedited processing for extra cash. Some states do same-day if you show up in person.
Step 4: Translation (If Required)
Some countries want your document in their language. Hire a certified translator who handles legal documents.
The translation might need separate notarization. Ask first.
Mistakes People Actually Make
Using photocopies: Only certified originals work. Period.
Wrong state office: Got married in one state but live in another? Send it to where you got married.
Not checking translation rules: Some countries require translation done by their approved translators. Finding this out after you get the apostille wastes weeks.
Waiting too long: Standard processing takes 4-7 weeks. Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries can take 8-12 weeks. Start early.
Name mismatches: If your passport says “Jennifer” but your marriage certificate says “Jenny,” fix it before applying.
Forgetting other documents: Immigration applications often need multiple apostilled documents. If you’re relocating for work, you might also need an FBI background check or other vital records.
Real Costs and Timelines
Here’s what you’ll actually spend in 2025:
DIY Standard Process:
- Certified copy: $10-$30
- State apostille: $5-$20
- Return postage: $5-$10
- Total: $20-$60
- Time: 4-7 weeks
DIY Expedited:
- Certified copy (rush): $25-$45
- Expedited apostille: $25-$75
- Express shipping both ways: $30-$50
- Total: $80-$170
- Time: 1-2 weeks
Professional Service:
- All-inclusive: $150-$300
- Time: 1-3 weeks (they handle everything)
Paying someone costs more up front but can save you money if you screw something up. Resubmitting documents or missing deadlines ends up costing way more than the service fee.
Countries That Accept Apostilles (and Which Don’t)
Apostilles work in:
- Most European countries (UK, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and basically all the others)
- Australia and New Zealand
- Japan and South Korea
- Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia
- India, Israel, South Africa
- China (joined November 2023, so this is fairly recent)
- Canada (just started in January 2024)
You’ll need embassy legalization for:
- United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, everywhere in the UAE)
- Vietnam
- Egypt
- Most Middle Eastern countries
- A bunch of African countries
More countries join the Hague Convention every year so the list shifts. Always check hcch.net before doing anything. If your country’s not on there, you’re looking at embassy legalization which takes longer and costs more.
Common Documents Needed Together
Visa applications rarely ask for just one document. You’ll probably need:
- Marriage certificate apostille (what we’re talking about here)
- Birth certificate apostille for both of you
- Background check apostille (work visas or permanent residency usually want this)
- Educational documents if you’re working abroad
- Divorce decree apostille if either of you was married before
Get everything apostilled in one shot. Saves shipping costs and waiting around. Most people figure this out halfway through and have to restart with the missing documents.
What Different Countries Actually Want
Every country does things their own way. Here’s the reality:
Spain & Italy: Apostille plus certified translation. They want it in Spanish or Italian.
UK & Australia: Just the apostille. English works fine.
Germany & France: Both apostille and translation. Sometimes they get picky about how things are formatted.
UAE & China: Not in the Hague Convention. You’re doing the full embassy legalization thing.
Canada: Started taking apostilles in January 2024. If you’re working with old requirements, verify what they need now.
Call whoever’s asking for your documents. Embassy staff will walk you through their specific requirements in five minutes.
What You Need to Do Next
Here’s your roadmap:
- Order a certified copy from where you got married
- Verify your country takes apostilles at hcch.net
- Send everything to the correct Secretary of State
- Get translation if they want it
- Budget 6-8 weeks for the whole thing
People mess up by rushing and by skipping the verification step. Don’t assume anything about what the receiving country wants.
Some people tackle this themselves. Others pay to have it handled. Both ways get you there. Just start early because fixing mistakes eats up time fast. We do this stuff regularly if government paperwork isn’t your thing. If you’re DIYing it, triple-check before mailing anything out.
