US state guide
Colorado birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Colorado records. Here is how to order the right version, get the apostille and avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.
Order a certified long-form certificate
- OfficeColorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$25
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byColorado Secretary of State, Authentications Program
- Fee per document$5
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outBirth certificates must be certified by Colorado Vital Records (or a Colorado county); no online apostilles; $15 expedited walk-in only.
Prepare it for your country
Greece
Certified long-form records, each with an apostille, then an official Greek translation.
Translate only after the apostille is attached, by a certified translator or the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs translation service.
Greek citizenship guide →Ireland
Original civil (state-issued) certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent.
US documents are in English, so no translation is needed. Check the current Foreign Births Register document guide before ordering apostilles.
Irish citizenship guide →Poland
Certified long-form records with apostilles, translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
Polish authorities require translations by a Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), done after the apostille.
Polish citizenship guide →Fees and procedures come from official Colorado websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Colorado
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Colorado?
Order a certified copy from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics (online, mail, in person). Ask for the full version that lists both parents, because short-form or abstract copies are usually rejected for citizenship applications.
How do I get an apostille in Colorado?
Apostilles for Colorado documents are issued by Colorado Secretary of State, Authentications Program, currently $5 per document. Birth certificates must be certified by Colorado Vital Records (or a Colorado county); no online apostilles; $15 expedited walk-in only. Check the official page for current fees and processing times.
Do I translate before or after the apostille?
After. The apostille certifies the signature on the original document, so the translation must cover the document and the apostille together.
Which countries' citizenship can these Colorado documents be used for?
The same apostilled Colorado records are the starting point for Greek, Irish and Polish citizenship by descent, among others. Each country adds its own translation and registration rules.
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