US state guide
Louisiana birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Louisiana 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
- OfficeLouisiana Department of Health - Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Vital Records Registry)
- Long formLong-form birth certificate (the short form is a wallet-size 'birth card'); participating Clerks of Court also issue long and short forms
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- 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 byLouisiana Secretary of State - Commissions Division
- Fee per document$20
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outSend an original certified copy issued by Louisiana Vital Records (signed by the State Registrar) or a Clerk of Court; no notarization needed, photocopies not accepted; include written request with destination country and authentication request form; $10 per document if adoption-related.
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 Louisiana websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Louisiana
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Louisiana?
Order a certified copy from Louisiana Department of Health - Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Vital Records Registry) (online, mail, in person). Note: Long-form birth certificate (the short form is a wallet-size 'birth card'); participating Clerks of Court also issue long and short forms. 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 Louisiana?
Apostilles for Louisiana documents are issued by Louisiana Secretary of State - Commissions Division, currently $20 per document. Send an original certified copy issued by Louisiana Vital Records (signed by the State Registrar) or a Clerk of Court; no notarization needed, photocopies not accepted; include written request with destination country and authentication request form; $10 per document if adoption-related. 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 Louisiana documents be used for?
The same apostilled Louisiana 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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