Secretary of State in the state where the marriage was registered. Note: the issuing county clerk's certification alone is usually not enough — you need the state-level apostille.
What You Need Before Submitting for Apostille
A certified copy from the county clerk or state vital records office where the marriage was registered. Requirements vary by state — some issue certified copies at the county level, others through the state. Do NOT notarize a certified marriage certificate before apostille.
Step-by-Step Process
-
1
Obtain the Correct Document Version
See the preparation requirements above. The most common reason apostille requests fail at step one is submitting the wrong version of the document. When in doubt, contact the issuing authority (vital records office, court clerk, school) and confirm you have the right certified copy before proceeding.
-
2
Identify Your State's Apostille Office
The apostille is issued by the state where the document was issued or notarized — not where you live now. Use our state directory to find the correct office, current fee, and mailing address for your state.
-
3
Prepare Your Submission Package
Include: the original certified document, a cover letter (your name, return address, destination country, document count), payment (check or money order to the state authority for the per-document fee), and a pre-addressed return envelope with tracking.
-
4
Submit and Wait
Mail to the address on your state's official website (always verify — addresses change). Use a tracked mailing method. Standard processing: 5–15 business days depending on state. See the state table for your state's specific timeline.
-
5
Receive and Submit to Destination
Verify the apostille is securely attached. Do not separate it from the original. If a translation is required, send the complete apostilled document to a certified translator. Then submit the full package to your foreign authority.
Common Uses: Apostilling a Marriage Certificate
| Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|
| Spousal visa for Spain, France, or Italy | Most European spousal visa applications require an apostilled marriage certificate. |
| German Einbürgerung | Naturalization in Germany requires apostilled marriage certificates for married applicants. |
| Italy dual citizenship (jure sanguinis) | Every marriage record in the lineage chain must be apostilled. |
| International name change documentation | Many countries require an apostilled marriage certificate to update foreign government records. |
| OCI — married applicants | VFS Global may require apostilled marriage certificate depending on OCI application type. |
Marriage certificates can be tricky — some states issue them through county clerks while others centralize through vital records. If in doubt, contact your state's vital records office, not the county, to ensure you're getting the right certified copy for apostille.
Frequently Asked Questions
This varies by state. In some states (e.g., Texas, New York), the county clerk issues marriage records and the state SOS can apostille a clerk-certified copy. In other states, only the state-issued vital record carries the right signature. When in doubt, order from the state vital records office — that copy always works.
For use in another foreign country, your foreign-issued marriage certificate needs an apostille from the country that issued it — not from a U.S. state. If you need to use a foreign marriage certificate in the U.S., apostilles are generally not required for U.S. domestic use.
A certified copy — specifically the type issued with the registrar's signature and official seal — is exactly what you need. You do not need the 'original' decorative certificate issued at your ceremony. Those are not official government records.
Contact the Secretary of State (or equivalent) in the state where the marriage was performed and registered — not your current state of residence. You'll need to order a certified copy from that state's vital records office first, then submit it for apostille to that state's SOS.