Question 1

What is an apostille?

Accepted Answer

An apostille is a certificate issued by a designated U.S. authority (a Secretary of State) that authenticates a U.S. document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Question 2

Do I need to send my original birth certificate?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, no. You upload a clear color scan of your birth certificate through our secure portal. Our licensed notary certifies that the printed copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original, and a U.S. Secretary of State issues the apostille on the notary-certified true copy. Your original birth certificate never has to leave your possession. The only time you would need to mail the physical original is if the receiving authority in your destination country specifically requires the original document or specifically requires the apostille to come from North Carolina's Secretary of State.

Question 3

How can you process an apostille with just a digital scan?

Accepted Answer

Our process uses a U.S.-licensed notary who certifies that a printed copy made from your scan is a true and accurate reproduction of the original document. A U.S. Secretary of State then issues the apostille on the notary-certified true copy. The apostille authenticates the notary's seal and signature, which is exactly what the Hague Convention recognizes. Because we work from a scan, your original never has to leave your possession, processing is significantly faster than mailing physical documents back and forth, and there is no risk of your original being lost or damaged in transit.

Question 4

Does my birth certificate need notarization before the apostille?

Accepted Answer

Government-issued vital records (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates) typically do not require additional notarization before apostille. Private documents such as powers of attorney, school transcripts, and personal affidavits do need to be notarized first, because the apostille is issued on the notary's certification rather than on the document itself. If your birth certificate needs notarization, we can handle it as part of your order through our remote online notary add-on.

Question 5

How long does it take to get a birth certificate apostille in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Our digital process completes Economy orders in 4-6 business days, Standard in 2-3 business days, and Express in 1 business day. Shipping time is separate from processing time.

Question 6

How much does a birth certificate apostille cost in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on the processing tier you choose. Economy starts at $149 per document, Standard at $197, and Express (1 business day) at $249. All tiers include document review, notarized true copy, state apostille, and tracked domestic shipping. See our pricing page for full details and add-ons.

Question 7

Where do I get a birth certificate apostille in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to go anywhere in person. Upload a clear scan of your birth certificate through our portal. Our licensed notary certifies a true copy, a U.S. Secretary of State issues the apostille on the certified true copy, and we ship the completed document back to you with tracking.

Question 8

Which countries accept apostilles?

Accepted Answer

Over 120 countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention accept apostilles. This includes most of Europe, South America, and many countries in Asia and Africa. If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention, you may need embassy legalization instead of an apostille.

Question 9

Will my apostille be issued by North Carolina's Secretary of State?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. With our digital process, the apostille is issued by a U.S. Secretary of State where our licensed notary is commissioned, which may be a different state than North Carolina. The apostille is fully Hague Convention compliant and accepted by receiving authorities in 120+ countries regardless of which state issued it. If the receiving authority in your destination country specifically requires the apostille to be issued by North Carolina's Secretary of State, you would need to use our Original Document Apostille service, which routes your original birth certificate directly through North Carolina.

Birth Certificate Apostille from North Carolina

Birth Certificate Apostille · North Carolina

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Birth Certificate Apostille in North Carolina · FAQ

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