Do I need an apostille to get married in another country?

It depends on the country and the specific marriage office. Ask the foreign authority handling your marriage for its exact document and authentication requirements before ordering anything.

What documents need an apostille for an overseas marriage?

There is no universal list. Birth records, divorce records, marital-status documents, and other records are possible examples. Your receiving authority decides which ones apply to you.

Does my birth certificate need an apostille?

Only if the foreign marriage authority asks for it. Confirm the type of birth record and any issue-date requirements with that authority before ordering a copy.

I'm divorced. Will my divorce decree need an apostille?

Some authorities ask for evidence that a previous marriage ended. Confirm whether they require an official divorce decree, which version, and whether it needs authentication.

Do my documents need to be notarized before apostille?

Not automatically. Government-issued vital and court records follow their own authentication rules. A separate affidavit or privately signed document may need notarization if the receiving authority requires it.

Can you handle Pennsylvania documents?

We assist with eligible Pennsylvania apostille submissions, including Harrisburg courier service on eligible expedited orders. The Commonwealth issues the apostille, not our business.

Can you handle New Jersey documents?

We assist with eligible New Jersey apostille submissions. Tell us where each document was issued so we can discuss the applicable process and service options.

What if my documents are from different states?

List every document and issuing state in your request. Different state or federal documents may need separate authentication paths and cannot necessarily be submitted together.

How much does it cost?

Pricing depends on document types and count, issuing authorities, service speed, and pickup or delivery needs. Send us the receiving authority's requirements for a tailored quote.

How long does it take?

Timing depends on the documents, issuing authorities, available processing, and service selected. We cannot guarantee government processing or foreign acceptance.

Apostille services for marriage abroad

Need an Apostille to Get Married Abroad?

First get the exact requirements from the foreign marriage authority. Bring those instructions to us, and we’ll help handle the U.S. apostille or authentication side for eligible documents.

Document review · Apostille assistance · Pennsylvania & New Jersey service · Status updates

Get My Apostille Quote Tell Us What Documents You Need

Before You Order an Apostille, Find Out Exactly What the Foreign Authority Requires

There is no universal document checklist for getting married abroad.

Requirements can vary by country, municipality, nationality, residency, previous marital status, and the office receiving your paperwork. Don’t order replacement records, notarize documents, or pay for apostilles based on a generic checklist.

First ask the foreign civil registry, marriage office, local government, consulate, embassy, attorney, or other receiving authority for the exact documents and format it will accept. Then bring those requirements to us.

Know What You Need? Get an Apostille Quote

What Documents Might Need an Apostille for a Marriage Abroad?

These are examples, not a required list. The receiving authority decides what applies to you.

Birth certificate

A certified government-issued birth record may be requested. Ask which version and issue date the marriage office accepts.

Birth certificate apostille guide

Divorce decree

If you were previously married, the authority may require a court-issued record showing the marriage ended.

Pennsylvania divorce decree apostille

Death certificate of a previous spouse

Widowed applicants may be asked for proof concerning a previous spouse. Confirm the exact record required.

Death certificate guide

Marital-status document

An affidavit, declaration, or government record may be requested. There is no universal PA or NJ single-status certificate; confirm the form they accept before signing or notarizing anything.

Passport copy

Some offices request a passport copy. The required copy certification or notarization procedure varies; a passport copy cannot automatically be apostilled.

Other affidavits or records

Additional documents may be needed based on your situation. If you are already married in the U.S. and registering that marriage abroad, see our Pennsylvania marriage certificate service.

Pennsylvania marriage certificate apostille

Previously Married? Your Divorce Documents May Need an Apostille

A foreign marriage office may ask you to show that a previous marriage ended. It might require an official divorce decree or another court record. For a Pennsylvania divorce, obtain the appropriate court-issued version if the receiving authority requests it.

Learn About Pennsylvania Divorce Decree Apostilles Already Have Your Decree? Get My Apostille Quote

Pennsylvania and New Jersey Documents Follow Different Apostille Processes

The processing path generally follows where a record originated or which official issued or notarized it—not where you live. A Pennsylvania vital record generally follows Pennsylvania’s process; a New Jersey record generally follows New Jersey’s. Federal records have their own route.

If your papers come from multiple states or federal agencies, list every item and issuing authority. They may need different submissions.

Pennsylvania apostille New Jersey apostille All apostille services

Tell Us What Documents You Have

Do My Marriage-Abroad Documents Need to Be Notarized First?

Not every document needs notarization. Government-issued vital records and court records have their own authentication requirements; notarizing a birth certificate or divorce decree does not fix an unacceptable record. A privately executed document or affidavit may need notarization if the receiving authority requires it. We can assist with eligible notarization when it is actually needed.

Confirm the foreign requirements first. Then we can help with the appropriate U.S. processing path.

Need More Than One Document Apostilled?

Your list may include a birth certificate, divorce record, affidavit, passport-related document, or records from more than one state. Tell us about the entire package and share the foreign authority’s instructions so we can discuss each document’s U.S. path. Not all documents can be processed together or by the same authority.

Get a Quote for My Documents

What Country Are You Getting Married In?

The destination affects the requested documents and the authentication process. Hague Apostille Convention destinations may accept an apostille, while other cases can involve further authentication or consular legalization. The receiving authority decides the actual requirements.

Tell Us Your Destination Country

Common Apostille Mistakes When Getting Married Abroad

Following a generic checklist instead of the marriage office’s instructions
Ordering the wrong version of a vital record
Apostilling a document nobody requested
Assuming every document needs notarization
Using the wrong court-issued divorce record
Sending another state’s record through Pennsylvania
Waiting until just before travel
Leaving out the destination country
Assuming all documents follow the same processing path

A little preparation can prevent unnecessary processing, replacement documents, and delays.

How Our Marriage-Abroad Apostille Service Works

1
Get the foreign requirements
Ask the civil registry, marriage office, consulate, attorney, or other receiving authority for its exact instructions.
2
Bring them to us
Share the instructions, every document type and issuing state, destination country, document count, and desired timeframe.
3
Review the U.S. route
We review the U.S. document side and discuss the state or federal authentication options. We do not decide your eligibility to marry abroad.
4
Coordinate documents
Depending on your location and service selected, arrange eligible pickup, shipping, or another document handoff.
5
Submit for authentication
Eligible documents go to the appropriate issuing authority. Eligible expedited Pennsylvania courier orders may include Harrisburg submission.
6
Receive updates
We provide status updates as your order progresses, without guaranteeing government processing or foreign acceptance.
7
Get documents back
Completed documents are returned under the service arrangement agreed with you.

Get My Apostille Quote

Why Use Our Apostille Service for Your Marriage Abroad Documents?

One point of contact for the U.S. side: document review, Pennsylvania and New Jersey service options, eligible Harrisburg courier service, mobile document service when available, notarization for eligible documents when required, coordination of multiple documents, status updates, and return arrangements.

We are not a government office or law firm. We cannot determine eligibility to marry abroad, give legal advice, guarantee processing times, or guarantee acceptance by a foreign authority.

Apostille for Getting Married Abroad FAQs

Getting Married Abroad? Start With Your Document Requirements.

Get the foreign marriage authority’s exact instructions before paying for apostilles. Once you have them, share your documents, issuing states, destination country, and timeframe. We’ll explain the available U.S. apostille service options and handle the selected process.

Get My Apostille Quote I Have My Document Requirements