Apostille Your American Documents for Use Abroad
DNExpress provides apostille services for eligible U.S.-issued documents for $80 USD per document. DNExpress must receive the appropriate original or certified document before it can be processed for apostille. If a customer does not have an eligible U.S. birth, death or marriage record, DNExpress can assist with obtaining a new copy for an additional $50 service fee, plus applicable government or related charges. Apostille processing takes approximately two weeks in many standard cases, depending on the document and the U.S. jurisdiction where it was issued. Customers should also provide the country where the document will be used.
Do you need to use a document issued in the United States in another country?
DNExpress can help you obtain an apostille for eligible U.S.-issued documents so they can be presented abroad when an apostille is required by the receiving authority.
$80 USD Per Document
Approximate Turnaround: 2 Weeks
Original or Appropriate Certified Document Required
You can mail your document to DNExpress, or for eligible U.S. vital records, we can help obtain a new copy for an additional $50 service fee, plus any applicable government or related charges.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a form of authentication used for eligible public documents that will be presented in another country participating in the applicable Hague Apostille Convention framework.
For example, you may have a document issued in the United States but need to present it in:
- Mexico
- Spain
- France
- Italy
- Colombia
- or another country
The foreign government, court, bank, university, notary, immigration authority, or other institution may require the U.S. document to be apostilled before it will accept it.
DNExpress can help you complete that process.
How Much Does It Cost to Apostille a U.S. Document?
$80 USD Per Document
The DNExpress apostille service fee for an eligible U.S.-issued document is:
$80 per Document
For example:
1 U.S. birth certificate + apostille service = $80
1 U.S. marriage certificate + apostille service = $80
1 U.S. death certificate + apostille service = $80
provided you supply the appropriate document required for the apostille process.
If you need DNExpress to obtain a new eligible U.S. vital record first, our record-obtainment service is an additional:
+$50 USD
Applicable government, certified-copy, shipping, expedited, or other third-party charges may also apply depending on the record and issuing jurisdiction.
We Need the Original or Appropriate Certified Document
This is one of the most important requirements for this service.
Unlike our Mexican apostille service—where DNExpress can typically obtain a new Mexican Civil Registry certificate as part of the $220 service—the $80 U.S. apostille service assumes that you provide DNExpress with the appropriate original or certified U.S. document required for apostille.
You can mail the document to DNExpress or deliver it according to our current document-receipt instructions.
Once we receive and review it, we can process the applicable apostille.
Don’t Have the U.S. Document? We Can Help Obtain It
If you don’t have the appropriate U.S. vital record, don’t worry.
For eligible records, DNExpress can help obtain a new copy for an additional:
$50 USD Service Fee
This applies to services involving eligible:
- U.S. birth certificates
- U.S. death certificates
- U.S. marriage certificates
The applicable government agency may charge its own certified-copy or other fees in addition to DNExpress’s $50 service fee.
Example
You need your California birth certificate apostilled for use abroad, but you don’t have the appropriate certified copy.
DNExpress can help you:
Obtain the U.S. Birth Certificate
Receive the Document
Process the Apostille
Return the Completed Document
Plus applicable government/third-party fees when required.
What U.S. Documents Can Be Apostilled?
DNExpress can assist with apostilles for many eligible documents issued in the United States.
Examples may include:
U.S. Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are commonly apostilled for:
- Dual citizenship
- Foreign citizenship applications
- Marriage abroad
- Immigration procedures
- Foreign residency
- Family matters
- Legal procedures abroad
U.S. Death Certificates
An apostilled U.S. death certificate may be needed abroad for:
- Inheritance
- Probate
- Property
- Banking
- Insurance
- Foreign Civil Registry procedures
- Legal matters
U.S. Marriage Certificates
Marriage certificates may need to be apostilled for use abroad in matters involving:
- Immigration
- Citizenship
- Residency
- Marriage registration
- Family law
- Name-related procedures
- Other official matters
Other U.S.-Issued Documents
DNExpress may also be able to assist with other eligible American documents.
Because the correct apostille procedure depends on who issued the document, where it was issued, and what type of document it is, DNExpress should review nonstandard documents before processing.
We Need to Know Where the Document Will Be Used
When requesting the apostille service, tell DNExpress:
What document do you need apostilled?
In which U.S. state was it issued?
Which country will receive the document?
This information is important because the correct authentication procedure can depend on the document’s issuing authority and intended country of use.
How Long Does a U.S. Apostille Take?
Approximately 2 Weeks
For many standard cases, our estimated turnaround is approximately:
2 Weeks
Processing time varies depending on:
- State where the document was issued
- Type of document
- Issuing authority
- Applicable apostille authority
- Government processing time
Approximate turnaround: 2 weeks. Processing time may vary depending on the document and state where it was issued.
Example: U.S. Birth Certificate for Use in Mexico
You were born in the United States and need to present your U.S. birth certificate in Mexico.
The Mexican authority tells you the birth certificate must be apostilled.
If You Already Have the Appropriate Birth Certificate
Mail/Deliver Document to DNExpress
DNExpress Processes Apostille
Completed Apostilled Document Returned to You
If you don’t have the appropriate certified birth certificate, DNExpress can also help obtain a new copy for an additional $50 service fee, plus applicable government/related charges.
Example: U.S. Death Certificate for Use Abroad
A family member passed away in the United States, and you need to present the death certificate to an authority in another country.
You provide DNExpress with the appropriate certified death certificate.
We process the applicable apostille and return the completed document.
If you don’t have the required record, ask DNExpress about our U.S. Vital Records service.
How the DNExpress U.S. Apostille Service Works
Step 1 — Tell Us What Document You Have
Send us information about the document, including the state where it was issued and the country where it will be used.
Step 2 — We Confirm the Document Requirements
DNExpress reviews the document and determines the appropriate apostille process.
Step 3 — Send Us the Document
DNExpress needs the appropriate original or certified document in hand to process the apostille.
Step 4 — Don’t Have It? We Can Help Obtain It
For eligible U.S. birth, death and marriage records, DNExpress can assist with obtaining a new copy for an additional $50 service fee, plus applicable government/related charges.
Step 5 — DNExpress Processes the Apostille
We submit the eligible document through the applicable apostille process.
Step 6 — We Return the Completed Document
Once completed, the apostilled document can be returned or shipped according to the selected delivery option.
Important: An Apostille and a Certified Translation Are Different
An apostille authenticates an eligible public document for international use under the applicable framework.
A certified translation translates the document into another language.
Depending on the receiving country or institution, you may need:
U.S. Document + Apostille
or:
U.S. Document + Apostille + Translation
The receiving authority determines what it requires.
Important: Confirm What the Foreign Authority Requires
Before ordering an apostille, confirm the requirements of the organization receiving your document.
Depending on the country and purpose, it may require:
- Apostille
- Certified copy
- Original document
- Certified translation
- Recently issued document
- Additional authentication
- Specific document format
DNExpress processes the apostille, but the foreign authority ultimately determines what documentation it will accept.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does DNExpress charge to apostille a U.S. document?
The DNExpress apostille service is $80 USD per document.
Is the $80 fee per document?
Yes. The apostille service fee is $80 for each document being apostilled.
How long does it take?
Approximately two weeks for many standard cases. Timing depends on the state, issuing authority and type of document.
Do you need my original document?
DNExpress needs the appropriate original or certified document required for the apostille process in our possession.
Can I send you a photocopy?
A photocopy may be useful for preliminary review, but the apostille process generally requires the appropriate original or certified document. DNExpress will tell you what is required for your specific document.
What if I don’t have my birth certificate?
For eligible U.S. vital records, DNExpress can help obtain a new copy. Our U.S. record-obtainment service fee is $50, plus applicable government or related charges.
Can you obtain my U.S. death certificate?
For eligible cases, yes. DNExpress assists with obtaining U.S. birth, death and marriage records.
Can you apostille a California birth certificate?
DNExpress can assist with eligible California-issued documents. The correct process depends on the document and issuing authority.
Can you apostille documents from other states?
Yes, DNExpress can assist with eligible documents from U.S. jurisdictions. Processing procedures and times vary by issuing jurisdiction.
Do you need to know which country I’m sending the document to?
Yes. Tell DNExpress the country where the document will be presented so we can review the appropriate authentication requirements.
Does an apostille guarantee that another country will accept my document?
No. The receiving authority determines its requirements. Confirm with that authority whether an apostille, translation or other documentation is required.
