US state guide
Minnesota birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Minnesota 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
- OfficeMinnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
- Long formMinnesota no longer issues long-form birth certificates; MDH offers a certified birth certificate, a noncertified birth record and a long-form birth certificate policy memo
- How to ordermail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$26
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byMinnesota Secretary of State
- Fee per document$5
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outSend the certified birth certificate issued by MDH (no notarization needed) with the Authentication Request Form; in person by appointment only; noncertified record and long-form policy memo must be notarized separately before apostille.
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 Minnesota websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Minnesota
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Minnesota?
Order a certified copy from Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Vital Records (mail, in person). Note: Minnesota no longer issues long-form birth certificates; MDH offers a certified birth certificate, a noncertified birth record and a long-form birth certificate policy memo. 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 Minnesota?
Apostilles for Minnesota documents are issued by Minnesota Secretary of State, currently $5 per document. Send the certified birth certificate issued by MDH (no notarization needed) with the Authentication Request Form; in person by appointment only; noncertified record and long-form policy memo must be notarized separately before apostille. 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 Minnesota documents be used for?
The same apostilled Minnesota 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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