US state guide

North Dakota birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship

Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified North Dakota records. Here is how to order the right version, get the apostille and avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.

1

Order a certified long-form certificate

  • OfficeNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services - Vital Records
  • How to orderonline, mail, in person
  • Fee per birth certificate$15
Official North Dakota vital records site ↗

Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.

2

Get the apostille

  • Issued byNorth Dakota Secretary of State
  • Fee per document$10
  • How to applymail
  • Watch outPlus $5 record search fee per unique signature; include a letter naming the destination country. Vital Records can route the order directly to the Secretary of State if you note 'apostille' and the country when ordering (two-agency process).
Official North Dakota apostille page ↗
3

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 Dakota websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.

FAQ

How do I get a long-form birth certificate in North Dakota?

Order a certified copy from North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services - Vital Records (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 Dakota?

Apostilles for North Dakota documents are issued by North Dakota Secretary of State, currently $10 per document. Plus $5 record search fee per unique signature; include a letter naming the destination country. Vital Records can route the order directly to the Secretary of State if you note 'apostille' and the country when ordering (two-agency process). 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 Dakota documents be used for?

The same apostilled North Dakota records are the starting point for Greek, Irish and Polish citizenship by descent, among others. Each country adds its own translation and registration rules.

Need your ancestor's US naturalization records? →

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