US state guide
Florida birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Florida 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
- OfficeFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Long formFlorida distinguishes a 'computer-generated certification' from a manually produced 'photocopy certificate'; for apostille purposes DOH uses form DH726A, priced at the photocopy-certificate rate ($14 first copy)
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$9
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byFlorida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Apostille Certificate)
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outTwo-step process: order the certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (form DH726A, Attn: Apostille Unit, Jacksonville), then send it to Dept. of State, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee (walk-in/courier: 2415 N. Monroe St, Suite 810); VitalChek can route the order to the Dept. of State for you. Fla. Stat. 15.16(7) caps the apostille fee at $10.
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 Florida websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Florida
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Florida?
Order a certified copy from Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics (online, mail, in person). Note: Florida distinguishes a 'computer-generated certification' from a manually produced 'photocopy certificate'; for apostille purposes DOH uses form DH726A, priced at the photocopy-certificate rate ($14 first copy). 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 Florida?
Apostilles for Florida documents are issued by Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Apostille Certificate). Two-step process: order the certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics (form DH726A, Attn: Apostille Unit, Jacksonville), then send it to Dept. of State, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee (walk-in/courier: 2415 N. Monroe St, Suite 810); VitalChek can route the order to the Dept. of State for you. Fla. Stat. 15.16(7) caps the apostille fee at $10. 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 Florida documents be used for?
The same apostilled Florida 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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