How to Apostille an Arizona Birth Certificate (Step-by-Step Guide)
Are you planning to move, get married, or teach English abroad? If so, you have probably been told you need an "Apostille" for your Arizona birth certificate.
This confuses most people. Is it a stamp? Is it a notary seal? The short answer is: An Apostille is a specialized certificate issued by the Arizona Secretary of State that proves your document is real so another country will accept it.
Without it, your foreign visa or dual citizenship application will be rejected immediately.
Here is the 3-step process to getting it right the first time.
Step 1: Check Your Document (The "Blue Paper" Rule)
The #1 reason Apostilles are rejected is that people submit the wrong birth certificate.
REJECTED: The cute certificate from the hospital with your newborn footprints on it. (This is a "souvenir," not a legal record).
REJECTED: A photocopy or scan of your birth certificate.
ACCEPTED: A Certified Copy issued by the Arizona Office of Vital Records. It is usually printed on blue or green safety paper and has a raised embossed seal that you can feel with your finger.
Don't have one? You must order a new certified copy from your County Health Department or VitalChek before starting the Apostille process.
Step 2: The Secretary of State Run
In Arizona, a standard notary cannot issue an Apostille. Only the Secretary of State can do it. You have two options:
The Hard Way: Drive to the Secretary of State's office in downtown Phoenix or Tucson, find parking, wait in line, and submit your documents (or mail them and wait 3-4 weeks).
The Easy Way: Hire a courier service (like us) to handle the entire run for you.
Step 3: Translation (If Required)
If you are moving to a non-English speaking country (like Mexico, Spain, or Italy), you will likely need your Apostilled birth certificate translated by a certified professional.
Warning: You generally cannot translate the document yourself, even if you speak the language. Immigration authorities require a "Certificate of Translation Accuracy" signed by a third party.
Need it done fast?
Skip the line and let us handle the bureaucracy. We hand-deliver documents to the Arizona Secretary of State to ensure they are processed correctly.