Apostille

A birth certificate or death certificate which is prepared to give to a foreign country is called an apostille.

The following situations are examples of when a birth-certificate apostille could be required:

• Transferred by your employer to a foreign country
• Wanting to marry in a foreign country
• Adopting a child in a foreign country

The following situations are examples of when a death-certificate apostille could be required:

• Burying a deceased family member in a foreign country
• Settling an estate of a deceased family member in a foreign country

Instructions on obtaining an apostille:

1. Obtain a certified copy of the required vital record. When applying, give the reason for the request as "Apostille." If the birth or death occurred in the past 6 months, it is advised to get a certified copy from the county clerk's office where the event occurred. For instructions on obtaining a certified copy of a birth record from the Texas Vital Statistics, see the Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate page. For instructions on obtaining a certified copy of a death record from the Texas Vital Statistics, see the Certified Copy of a Death Certificate page.



2. Once you have a properly certified document, send it to the Secretary of State's Office with the required fee for an apostille. Please specify the name of the country where the document will be recorded, and include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope. Mail it to:

   Secretary of State
   Statutory Documents Section
   P.O. Box 12887
   Austin, TX 78711-2887
   Phone number: (512) 463-5705

Visit the Texas Secretary of State's website for further instructions on payment and locations.

External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.

Last Updated April 20, 2006