DOCUMENT APOSTILLE GUIDE
Florida Business & Corporate Documents Apostille Requirements
Learn how to prepare your document for apostille processing, including applicable notarization requirements, required certifications, and important submission guidelines.
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Preparation Requirements
Identify the Business Document
Determine whether the document is a Certificate of Status, Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, corporate amendment, business agreement, board resolution, or other corporate record.
Florida Certificates of Status
Request an official Certificate of Status from the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
The original certificate must be submitted for apostille processing.
Certified Corporate Records
For Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, amendments, and other documents filed with Sunbiz, request an official certified copy from the Florida Division of Corporations.
Privately Issued Business Documents
Business agreements, corporate resolutions, authorization letters, and similar privately executed documents may qualify for apostille processing when properly notarized by a commissioned Florida notary public.
Verify the Certification
Ensure the document contains an eligible official certification or a complete Florida notarial certificate.
Submit for Apostille
Submit the original certified business record or original properly notarized document to the Florida Department of State.
Important Restrictions
Ordinary Sunbiz printouts, uncertified copies of corporate filings, and photocopies of notarized documents are not acceptable substitutes for eligible original certified or notarized documents.
Required Certification
Florida Certificates of Status
A Certificate of Status must be officially issued by the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations.
Submit the original certificate previously issued by the Division of Corporations, or request the certificate and apostille together.
Certified Copies of Corporate Filings
Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, amendments, and other filed corporate documents must be obtained as official certified copies from the Florida Division of Corporations.
Florida Notarization
Privately issued business agreements, corporate resolutions, and authorization letters may qualify when signed and properly notarized by a commissioned Florida notary public.
Notarial Certificate Requirements
The notarization must include a complete English-language notarial statement, the appropriate notarial act, required signer identification information, the notary's original signature, and official seal.
Original Document Requirement
Submit the eligible original certified corporate document or original properly notarized business document. Ordinary photocopies are not accepted.
Important Note
An apostille authenticates the eligible government or notarial signature. It does not verify the business's financial condition, ownership, authority to enter contracts, or legal standing in another country.