An apostille on a birth certificate may be required when you need to use your birth certificate outside the United States.
For a Kentucky-issued birth certificate, the apostille is obtained through the Kentucky Secretary of State. The birth certificate must meet the state’s requirements before it can be submitted for apostille.
If you need to get a Kentucky birth certificate apostille, you can submit the required certified birth certificate through an appropriate submission or courier service for processing.
An Apostille is an official certificate that verifies the authenticity and origin of a signature, seal, or stamp on a U.S. issued public document, making it legally recognized in all Hague Convention member nations.
Hague Apostille Convention members are a group of over 125+ nations that agreed to streamline document verification. For these countries, a state-issued apostille is all that is required for your document to be accepted abroad.
If you are traveling to or doing business in a country that does not belong to the Hague Convention, your document requires a state certification followed by embassy legalization rather than a standard apostille. Read here to learn more about document legalization for non-Hague countries.
We turn a complicated document task into four clear steps. You always know what happens next.
Fill out our form with document details for an instant quote and checklist.
If you are travelling to any foreign nation, either a Hague nation or a non-Hague nation, you must obtain official authentication for your document.
An Apostille on a US birth certificate is required mainly for VISA applications and official affairs in Hague countries:
Any document in the US will be issued by either the State government or the Federal government.
Birth certificate apostille, Marriage certificate apostille, Death Certificate apostille, etc. come under state-issued documents. For Kentucky-issued vital records, the apostille is processed by the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Before we move further into the apostille process, you need to know the difference between Apostille and legalization.
It is a broader term. Legalization is a process of verifying any document for use in a foreign country. In this attestation or apostille context, legalization is authentication for non-Hague countries. The authentication process for legalization is more complicated than an apostille. You can learn about it completely here.
List of Hague nations given here.
Is a process of authentication for Hague countries. It’s a simpler process compared to legalization. Now let's dive into the US apostille Process.
There are 2 kinds of documents when it comes to the apostille process:
Kentucky state government issued documents or vital documents such as a US birth certificate, US marriage certificate, or US death certificate must receive an apostille from the state of Kentucky, which issued the official document.
There are 2 main ways to obtain a Kentucky State Apostille on a US Birth Certificate:
The apostille is processed and issued through the Kentucky Secretary of State. A certified original birth certificate (issued by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics) is required to obtain a direct state apostille. Before attaching the apostille, the Kentucky Secretary of State verifies the official signature and registrar seal on the document.
Once approved, the Kentucky Secretary of State attaches an official Apostille Certificate directly to your original birth certificate.
If you do not possess a certified original copy, you can request a new official birth certificate directly from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics.
You can also obtain an apostille on a notarized copy of the birth certificate where permitted. Notarization is performed by a licensed notary public in Kentucky, who executes a copy certification by document custodian statement.
Based on the valid notary acknowledgment, the notarized copy is then submitted to the Kentucky Secretary of State for final state apostille processing.
Note – While many Hague Convention member nations accept apostilles on notarized photocopies, certain foreign embassies or official authorities strictly require an apostille on a certified original document. Always check with the receiving authority before submitting your document for processing.
Federal documents such as FBI Background Checks, USDA Certificates, or Federal Court Orders must be apostilled at the federal level by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
The USDOS requires official original federal documents in order to issue a Federal Apostille Certificate.
Federal documents must be couriered for physical processing to complete the federal apostille.
The time taken to get an apostille on a US birth certificate issued in Kentucky depends on the state processing timeline at the Kentucky Secretary of State and whether you submit an official certified original document.
Please contact our apostille experts—they will inform you about the current Kentucky state turn-around times and whether expedited handling or courier submission is available for your document.
Like processing time, the total cost depends on the state in which the document was issued, government statutory fees, and whether you require expedited handling or international courier shipping. Check here for complete cost and service details for Kentucky.
For Non-Hague countries you need embassy attestation along with the apostille on the document.
Below are the processes required to get embassy attestation for a US Birth Certificate.
This complete 4‑step process is called the full legalization process. It typically takes 8–12 weeks, and the cost varies depending on the document, state attestation, federal attestation, and embassy time. Please check with Apostille experts for suggestions.
Apostille is a little complicated and requires thorough knowledge to suggest the best route. Speak to us or start the application form – we will guide you throughout the apostille process.
| Location | Contact Number | Email ID |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille Service in Louisville | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Lexington | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Bowling Green | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Owensboro | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Covington | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Richmond | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Georgetown | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Florence | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Hopkinsville | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
| Apostille Service in Frankfort | +1 (835) 268-7798 | [email protected] |
Transparent pricing, fast turnaround, and expert handling for all US-issued documents — from birth certificates to corporate papers.
Trusted by individuals, families, and businesses worldwide for fast, secure, and professionally managed US apostille services for international use.
I needed my birth certificate apostilled for dual citizenship in Italy. I was completely lost on where to start. The team walked me through every step, answered all my questions, and kept me updated. Got it back faster than I expected. So relieved.
Google Review
Needed my birth certificate apostilled for a work visa in Germany. I was confused about whether I needed state or federal apostille. They explained it clearly and handled everything. No stress, quick turnaround. Highly recommend.
Google ReviewI had a last-minute move to Spain and needed my birth certificate apostilled urgently. They understood the urgency and expedited it. Got it in 3 days. Lifesavers. Can't thank them enough.
Google ReviewI was nervous about mailing my original birth certificate, but they assured me it would be safe. The apostille was done correctly the first time. They kept me informed at every stage. I would definitely use them again.
Google Review
My husband and I needed his birth certificate apostilled for our marriage abroad. They were patient with all my questions and the whole process was smooth. We got it back in time for our appointment. Great service.
Google Review
Got my birth certificate apostilled for a residency application in Portugal. Quick turnaround and very professional. They even followed up to make sure everything was received. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Google ReviewGet clear answers to the most common questions about getting a US birth certificate apostilled for immigration, dual citizenship, marriage abroad, and other international purposes.
A birth certificate apostille is an official certification that verifies the authenticity of your US birth certificate for use in another country. It is issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued your birth certificate (or by the US Department of State for federal documents). Once apostilled, your birth certificate is legally recognized in all Hague Convention countries.
Because birth certificates are state-issued documents, the apostille must be obtained from the Secretary of State of the state where the birth certificate was originally issued. For example, a California birth certificate must be apostilled by the California Secretary of State. We handle this entire process for you.
Yes, in most cases you need to submit either the original certified birth certificate or a certified copy issued by the state vital records office. Photocopies are generally not accepted for a direct apostille. However, in some cases a notarized photocopy can be apostilled — we will advise you on the best option for your situation.
In some cases, yes. A notarized photocopy of your birth certificate can be apostilled if the notary public certifies it as a true copy. However, not all countries accept apostilles on photocopies. We recommend checking with the authority that will receive your document. We can guide you through the notarization and apostille process if a photocopy is acceptable.
Processing time depends on the state that issued your birth certificate. Typically, a state apostille takes 2–4 business days once we receive your document. Some states offer expedited or same-day service for an additional fee. We will let you know the exact timeline for your state and can help you choose the fastest option.
Generally, no. Certified birth certificates issued by a state vital records office do not require notarization before apostille. Notarization is only needed if you are submitting a photocopy or a document that is not already certified. We will tell you exactly what is required for your document.
Your apostilled US birth certificate is accepted in all Hague Convention member countries — including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, UAE, Canada, Mexico, and more — without any additional embassy legalization. If your destination country is not part of the Hague Convention, additional embassy attestation may be required.
If your destination country is not a Hague Convention member, your birth certificate will require embassy or consulate legalization after the apostille is obtained. This is an additional step where the embassy of the destination country in the US authenticates the apostille. Our team can guide you through the complete legalization process so your documents are fully accepted abroad.