US state guide
Illinois birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Illinois 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
- OfficeIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
- Long formlong form (certified copy with information collected at time of birth)
- How to ordermail
- Fee per birth certificate$15
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byIllinois Secretary of State, Index Department
- Watch outIDPH directs apostille requests to the Secretary of State Index Department (800-252-8980); Cook County Clerk lists Index Department offices in Springfield (2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy) and Chicago (160 N. LaSalle St, Suite 100). SOS pages blocked access, so fee and methods unverified.
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 Illinois websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Illinois
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Illinois?
Order a certified copy from Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records (mail). Note: long form (certified copy with information collected at time of birth). 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 Illinois?
Apostilles for Illinois documents are issued by Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department. IDPH directs apostille requests to the Secretary of State Index Department (800-252-8980); Cook County Clerk lists Index Department offices in Springfield (2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy) and Chicago (160 N. LaSalle St, Suite 100). SOS pages blocked access, so fee and methods unverified. 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 Illinois documents be used for?
The same apostilled Illinois 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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