US state guide
Rhode Island birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified Rhode Island 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
- OfficeRhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital Records
- How to ordermail, in person
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byRhode Island Department of State - Business Services Division
- Fee per document$5
- How to applymail, in person, online
- Watch outOnly records issued by the RI Department of Health Center for Vital Records and signed by the State Registrar or Deputy can be apostilled - city/town copies are rejected; births older than 100 years come from the RI State Archives.
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 Rhode Island websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve Rhode Island
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in Rhode Island?
Order a certified copy from Rhode Island Department of Health - Center for Vital Records (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 Rhode Island?
Apostilles for Rhode Island documents are issued by Rhode Island Department of State - Business Services Division, currently $5 per document. Only records issued by the RI Department of Health Center for Vital Records and signed by the State Registrar or Deputy can be apostilled - city/town copies are rejected; births older than 100 years come from the RI State Archives. 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 Rhode Island documents be used for?
The same apostilled Rhode Island 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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