Valid for Use in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and 100+ Countries
Need to Use a U.S. Birth Certificate Overseas?
If you or your child were born in North Carolina and you need to use the birth certificate abroad — for immigration, dual registration, visa applications, or schooling — an apostille is required. This is an international certification that confirms the document’s authenticity so it can be accepted by foreign governments.
This applies in situations such as:
- Registering a birth abroad
- Sponsoring a child or spouse for residency
- Enrolling a child in a foreign school
- Applying for family-based immigration
- Claiming benefits or inheritance overseas
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification used in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It proves that a U.S. birth certificate is genuine and legally valid for official use in another country.
Without this certification, foreign governments may not accept the birth certificate — even if it’s an official copy.
What Kind of Birth Certificate Can Be Apostilled?
Only a certified copy issued by the county Register of Deeds or the state Vital Records Office is accepted. This copy must include:
- An official signature from the issuing authority
- A raised or embossed seal
- A printed title (such as “Register of Deeds, Wake County” or “North Carolina State Registrar”)
Photocopies, notarized copies, or digital printouts are not eligible for apostille.
How It Works in North Carolina
Once you have the correct certified copy, it must be submitted to the North Carolina Secretary of State, who will review it and attach the apostille certificate. This final document is what you’ll send to foreign authorities, schools, or embassies.
Need help figuring out if your certificate is acceptable?
👉 Start here: North Carolina Apostille Services
Latin American Countries Where Apostilles Are Often Needed
We regularly help U.S. citizens and families submit apostilled birth certificates to countries in Latin America, such as:
- 🇲🇽 Mexico – for citizenship claims, school enrollment, or child registration
- 🇦🇷 Argentina – for legal residency or passport applications
- 🇨🇴 Colombia – for confirming identity in legal or family matters
- 🇵🇪 Peru – for visa processing and civil status updates
- 🇨🇱 Chile – for government registration of children born in the U.S.
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica – for school, healthcare, or immigration procedures
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay – for dual-family documentation
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic – for birth recognition or travel purposes
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador – for legal status registration
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay – for social benefits or family claims
Who Uses This Service?
Our clients include:
- American parents registering a child abroad
- Immigrants with ties to Latin America
- Adults born in the U.S. who now live overseas
- Families applying for dual documentation or residency for children
- U.S. citizens with relatives in Florida, New York, California, Illinois, and beyond
We assist with apostilles no matter where you currently live — as long as the document was issued in the United States.
We Serve All 50 U.S. States
While this article focuses on birth certificates from North Carolina, we provide the same apostille service for documents issued in South Carolina, Florida, New York, and all other U.S. states.
We handle the full process: document review, preparation, state submission, and return delivery — fast and stress-free.