Diploma Apostille in Florida
Getting a Diploma apostilled in Florida means working with the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee. The Florida Secretary of State charges $10 per document. Find your city below for local pickup and courier options.
Florida Apostille Requirements
- Authority: Florida Secretary of State
- Office Location: Tallahassee
- State Fee: $10
- Important Rule: Only issues apostilles for Florida documents.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a Diploma Apostille?
An important point is that an apostille is not a translation. Most foreign authorities also need a notarized translation in addition to the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities almost always require both the apostille and a certified translation. We offer complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.
The Hague Apostille Convention replaced the old multi-step embassy legalization process that was required before the Convention. Previously, getting a US document recognized abroad involved multiple rounds of authentication at different government levels followed by embassy stamps. The apostille replaced this with one standardized certificate from the appropriate government office. In Florida, that authority is the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee.
Diplomas are among the most frequently apostilled documents in the United States. The reason Diplomas come up in many international processes including immigration, employment, international education, and cross-border legal matters. For residents of Florida, the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee is the correct office for Diploma apostilles.
Florida: State vs Federal Authority
The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about getting a Diploma apostilled is determining which office processes your specific document type. In the US, there are two parallel systems: state-level and federal. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and Diplomas go to the state apostille office. Documents from US federal agencies, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.
For state-issued Diplomas, the apostille can only be issued by the Florida Secretary of State's office. In most cases, the document needs to be in certified form with an authentic seal. The Florida Secretary of State reviews the document's seals and signatures and attaches the apostille within 1 to 4 weeks depending on current volume.
A frequent and expensive error is submitting documents to the incorrect government authority. For example, if you mail a Diploma issued in Florida to the US Department of State in DC, the federal office will refuse to process it. In reverse, mailing a federal document to a state Secretary of State office will also come back unprocessed. Either way, the round-trip postal time sets your application back by weeks.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
If you are working under a tight deadline, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner reduces turnaround from weeks to days. Our team handles Florida-area pickups and submissions with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.
People across Florida mistakenly believe they can get an apostille at a local notary office in Florida. This is incorrect. A local notary can only witness signatures and verify identity. They are not permitted to attach an apostille certificate — only designated government offices hold this power.
Something else to consider is that Hague member countries will verify that the apostille came from the correct authority. If your Diploma is apostilled by the wrong authority, your documents will be rejected at the destination. This may result in an outright rejection from the foreign authority even if you have all other documents in order.
The Florida Apostille Authority
The Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times for mail-in submissions typically run 1 to 3 weeks depending on current volume. If you are in Florida and need it faster, an in-person submission via a runner service dramatically cuts the wait.
Before your document can be submitted to the Florida Secretary of State: it may need to be notarized or certified first. Educational records and private documents typically require notarization as a first step. We advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before starting the submission so there are no delays from missing prerequisites.
In FL, the correct office is the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee. The Florida Secretary of State is the sole office in FL to issue Hague Apostille certificates on Florida-issued public documents. The Florida Secretary of State maintains the official registry of state seals and is therefore the only entity capable of certifying their authenticity.
How to Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Florida
One of the most overlooked steps is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. Federal background checks, for example, have a shelf life of six months or less at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your Diploma is past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before apostilling. We check document dates as a standard step to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.
Certain Diplomas must be notarized before they can be apostilled. If your Diploma is a private document — such as an affidavit, power of attorney, or diploma, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary prior to the Florida Secretary of State will accept it. We coordinates any required pre-notarization so there are no surprises at the Florida Secretary of State.
Once we have your documents, our team reviews it for any issues that could cause rejection. This pre-flight review catches common problems like missing seals, uncertified copies, outdated notarizations, or incorrect fees. Finding problems upfront avoids the need to resubmit — rejection from the Florida Secretary of State that restarts the whole process.
How Long Does a Diploma Apostille Take in Florida?
Turnaround for apostille certification vary depending on the submission method and current government backlog. Documents sent by postal mail from Florida to the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee typically take 3 to 6 weeks round trip — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, backlogs can push timelines to 8 to 12 weeks.
If you need your Diploma apostilled urgently, the most time-efficient route is a courier service that physically delivers to the Florida Secretary of State. The Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee offer same-day service for walk-in submissions. Our runner uses this option wherever available to return apostilled documents to Florida faster than any postal alternative.
The US Department of State has its own processing timeline for FBI Background Checks and other federal records. Regular postal submissions to the Office of Authentications often takes 6 to 11 weeks due to the volume of requests from all 50 states. A DC-based courier can complete the federal apostille in 2 to 4 business days by physically submitting at the federal office.
What to Include With Your Submission
One detail that matters: if your Diploma was issued in a language other than English, some Florida Secretary of State offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. Alternatively, the apostille is issued without requiring a translation and the destination country receives a translated copy alongside the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you place your order.
When submitting your Diploma for apostille, make sure you include: your original Diploma or an official certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, a completed submission form if required, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Missing any of these will cause rejection.
Some Florida residents ask whether they should include a cover letter with their apostille submission. For direct submissions to the Florida Secretary of State, including a short cover page is advisable stating your name, document type, document count, and return address. The Florida Secretary of State processes high volumes of requests and a clear cover letter helps the office handle your request correctly and quickly.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting a photocopy instead of an original or certified copy is a common rejection reason. The Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Submitting a scan or uncertified copy will be rejected without processing. Obtain an original certified copy from the issuing agency before submitting your documents.
Failing to provide a prepaid return label is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee does not automatically return documents. Without a return label, your apostilled document may sit uncollected for days. Our service includes return shipping — no separate arrangements needed.
The single most expensive apostille error is sending your document to the wrong government authority. Florida residents sometimes send state documents like Diplomas to the US Department of State in DC. Either way, the office will reject the submission and return the document unprocessed. This adds 2 to 4 weeks — the round-trip postal time to the wrong office — before you can resubmit correctly.
Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Florida
Our courier network covers the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee, typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.
Order NowFrequently Asked Questions — Diploma Apostille in Florida
Does my Diploma need to be notarized before apostilling in Florida?
Yes. Most Secretary of State offices — including the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee — require that Diplomas be notarized or officially certified by the issuing institution before an apostille can be attached. We coordinate the full process: notarization, submission to the Florida Secretary of State, and return of the completed apostille.
Which state handles the apostille if I now live in Florida but attended school elsewhere?
The apostille must come from the state where the issuing institution is located — not the state where you currently live. If your Diploma was issued by a Florida institution, the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee is the correct office. If you attended school in another state, that state's Secretary of State handles the apostille.
How do I get a certified copy of my Diploma suitable for apostilling?
Contact the institution that issued your Diploma — typically the registrar, alumni office, or records department — and request an officially certified copy bearing an original seal or signature. This certified copy, not a photocopy, is what the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee will accept. We can advise on institution-specific requirements when you place your order.
Will my apostilled Diploma from Florida be accepted in countries that require specific formats?
Countries like Germany and the UAE have specific requirements for educational documents beyond the apostille — including certified translations and sometimes additional attestation. The apostille from the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee satisfies the Hague authentication requirement, but you may also need a sworn translation and, in some cases, attestation by the destination country's embassy. We offer full packages that cover apostille plus translation.