US state guide
North Carolina birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified North Carolina 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
- OfficeNC Vital Records (NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health)
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$24
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byNorth Carolina Department of the Secretary of State - Authentications Division
- Fee per document$10
- How to applymail, in person
- Watch outSend the original certified copy with a cover letter, payment payable to North Carolina Secretary of State and a prepaid return envelope or courier label; no online submission.
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 North Carolina websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve North Carolina
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in North Carolina?
Order a certified copy from NC Vital Records (NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health) (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 North Carolina?
Apostilles for North Carolina documents are issued by North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State - Authentications Division, currently $10 per document. Send the original certified copy with a cover letter, payment payable to North Carolina Secretary of State and a prepaid return envelope or courier label; no online submission. 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 North Carolina documents be used for?
The same apostilled North Carolina 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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