Pennsylvania apostille services.
Get Pennsylvania documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Pennsylvania Department of State for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Pennsylvania, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a Pennsylvania document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Pennsylvania, apostilles are issued by the Department of State in Harrisburg and signed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania has a couple of rules that trip filings up — a death certificate has to be signed by the state registrar (a local registrar's copy is refused), and a birth certificate should not be notarized. The mail queue can also run two to three weeks, so preparing the filing correctly matters.
We prepare, submit, and track your Pennsylvania apostille from start to finish — routing it the fastest way, whether same-day at the Harrisburg counter or by the drop box — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Pennsylvania.
One partner for every Pennsylvania document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
Pennsylvania requirements
What Pennsylvania documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Pennsylvania. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records must be state-issued
A Pennsylvania birth or death certificate must be a state-issued certified copy from the Department of Health's Division of Vital Records in New Castle — not a hospital, county, or local-registrar copy. A death certificate won't be accepted if it's signed by a local registrar, and a birth certificate should not be notarized. We order the correct state copy for you.
Notarized & county documents
A document notarized by a Pennsylvania notary goes directly to the Department of State. County-issued records — court and county documents — are different: they must be signed by the clerk in charge of that county office, not a deputy. We confirm the right path for your document.
Corporate records — the Subsistence Certificate
Pennsylvania's proof of good standing is the Subsistence Certificate from the Bureau of Corporations. We obtain it and then apostille it through the Department of State, in one order.
Documents we apostille in Pennsylvania
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in Pennsylvania to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Pennsylvania.
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Tell us your Pennsylvania document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Pennsylvania Department of State or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Pennsylvania document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Pennsylvania Department of State for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Pennsylvania document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Pennsylvania
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Pennsylvania — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Pennsylvania apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Pennsylvania?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In Pennsylvania, apostilles are issued by the Department of State, and whether we obtain the certified record or notarize the document for you is the main variable. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
How long does a Pennsylvania apostille take?+
By mail the Department of State runs about two to three weeks; the Harrisburg drop box is roughly five to seven business days; and a walk-in by 4 p.m. is same-day. We route your document the fastest way for your deadline.
Do Pennsylvania birth and death certificates need anything special?+
Yes. They must be state-issued certified copies from the Department of Health's Division of Vital Records in New Castle. A death certificate signed by a local registrar is refused, and a birth certificate should not be notarized. We order the correct state copy for you.
Does a Pennsylvania notarized document need a county step?+
No. A document notarized by a Pennsylvania notary goes directly to the Department of State. Only county-issued records — court and county documents — need the county clerk's signature. We confirm the right path for your document.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Pennsylvania?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Pennsylvania. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a Pennsylvania apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, and beyond — by secure, tracked mail, and you're welcome at either of our two San Diego walk-in offices.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your Pennsylvania apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.