If you are moving abroad, applying for dual citizenship, getting married overseas or registering a child’s birth in another country, the foreign office will often ask for your U.S. birth certificate with an apostille. The apostille is a certificate from the state that confirms the signature on your birth certificate is genuine, so the other country will accept it.
Need an Oregon birth certificate apostilled? PDX Fingerprinting handles Oregon birth certificate apostilles from start to finish. Book an appointment or call 503-212-0678.
When you need a birth certificate apostille
- Applying for citizenship by descent, such as Italian, Irish or Polish citizenship
- Getting a residence permit, long-stay visa or work permit abroad
- Getting married in another country
- Registering your child’s birth, or enrolling them in school, overseas
- Adoption, inheritance or other legal matters in another country
An apostille is only used for countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries that are not members usually require a different process called authentication or embassy legalization. Check our apostille by country page if you are not sure.
Which copy of the birth certificate is accepted
- It must be a certified copy, not a photocopy or a hospital souvenir certificate.
- The apostille comes from the state where you were born. An Oregon birth certificate is apostilled by the Oregon Secretary of State.
- For Oregon, order the certified copy from Oregon Vital Records (Oregon Health Authority). Some older or county-issued copies may not be accepted, so a recent state-issued copy is the safest choice.
- Many countries want a copy issued within the last 6 to 12 months, so check with the foreign office before you order.
How the Oregon process works
- Order a certified copy of the birth certificate from Oregon Vital Records.
- Submit it to the Oregon Secretary of State for the apostille. You can do this yourself, or we can handle it for you.
- The apostille is attached to the birth certificate. Do not remove the staple or separate the pages.
- If the foreign country needs it in its own language, have the birth certificate and the apostille translated.
Our Oregon apostille service costs $125 to $195 depending on turnaround time, plus $20 for each additional document. We also provide certified translations from $65.
Born in another state?
A birth certificate must be apostilled by the state that issued it. If you were born in Washington or California, for example, see our Washington apostille and California apostille services. We can coordinate out-of-state apostilles from our Portland-area offices.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending a photocopy or a notarized copy of a birth certificate instead of a certified copy
- Using an old certificate when the foreign country requires a recent one
- Removing the apostille or staples to make copies
- Forgetting that translations may need their own apostille or certification, depending on the country
Related services
- Oregon birth certificate apostille
- Oregon apostille service
- Apostille by country
- Certified translation
- Marriage certificate apostille in Oregon
Frequently asked questions
How long does a birth certificate apostille take?
It depends on how quickly you get the certified copy and on the Secretary of State’s current processing time. Choose expedited service if you have a deadline, and call us for current turnaround times.
Can I apostille a birth certificate from another country?
No. U.S. apostilles only cover U.S. documents. A foreign birth certificate must be apostilled or legalized in the country that issued it.
Do I need to be in Oregon to get an Oregon apostille?
No. Call us at 503-212-0678 to arrange the apostille if you live outside the Portland area. You will need a certified copy of the birth certificate.
Is an apostille the same as notarization?
No. A notary verifies signatures on documents you sign. An apostille certifies a public official’s signature, such as the State Registrar’s on a birth certificate. See apostille vs. authentication.
Related reading: Apostille time-saving tips
