US state guide
District of Columbia birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified District of Columbia 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
- OfficeDC Health, Vital Records Division
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$23
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byDC Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)
- Fee per document$15
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outAuthenticates certified documents issued or signed by a DC government agency; mail-in requires an online request notification form plus a hard-copy request form; walk-in same day, no appointment.
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 District of Columbia websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve District of Columbia
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in District of Columbia?
Order a certified copy from DC Health, Vital Records Division (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 District of Columbia?
Apostilles for District of Columbia documents are issued by DC Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA), currently $15 per document. Authenticates certified documents issued or signed by a DC government agency; mail-in requires an online request notification form plus a hard-copy request form; walk-in same day, no appointment. 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 District of Columbia documents be used for?
The same apostilled District of Columbia 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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