Do I need a certified copy first?

For vital records (birth, marriage, death), a certified copy from the issuing county or the PA Department of Health is required — a photocopy or a hospital certificate will be rejected.

How long does a PA apostille take?

Standard mail-in processing usually runs one to three weeks depending on Department of State volumes. We share current estimates when we quote your project.

Can you hand-deliver to Harrisburg?

Yes — for time-sensitive requests we can walk documents in and pick up the completed apostille, often the same day.

Do you handle expedited requests?

In many cases yes. Contact us so we can review options for your specific document and destination.

Which countries recognize PA apostilles?

Any Hague Convention member country. For non-Hague destinations, PA documents go through federal authentication and embassy legalization instead.

Pennsylvania Apostille Services | PA Document Apostille Help

Overview

Pennsylvania apostilles are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of State in Harrisburg. The exact preparation depends on the document type — vital records need a certified copy from the PA Department of Health or the county registrar, notarized documents need a valid PA notary acknowledgment, and business filings need a certified copy from the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations.

We review your document up front, confirm the correct preparation, and handle submission so it's accepted the first time. Because we're based in Philadelphia, we can hand-deliver to Harrisburg when timing is critical.

Who needs this service

Pennsylvania residents pursuing dual citizenship abroad
PA-based companies expanding into foreign markets
Teachers, healthcare workers, and engineers moving overseas for work
Families adopting internationally or reuniting with relatives abroad
Executors handling PA estates with foreign property

Required documents

Certified copies of PA vital records from the Department of Health or issuing county
Documents notarized by a valid PA notary
Certified copies from the PA Bureau of Corporations for business filings
Court-certified copies for court documents
Registrar-signed academic records for diplomas and transcripts

Step-by-step process

1
Send us your document
Upload or email a clear scan so we can confirm the correct process before you commit.
2
Preparation & quote
We confirm timing, price, and any prerequisites like a certified copy, county authentication, or notarization.
3
Submission to the PA Department of State
We submit to the PA Department of State and track the request end to end.
4
Delivery
Documents can be mailed, picked up, or hand-delivered locally in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

Processing times

Standard mail-in
Typically one to three weeks depending on current Department of State volumes.
Hand delivery
Same-day or next-day possible when we walk documents into Harrisburg. Best for tight deadlines.
Multi-document projects
Batched submissions are usually completed together to reduce cost and mail time.

Common mistakes to avoid

Submitting a hospital souvenir birth certificate instead of a state-certified copy
Using an out-of-state notary — the apostille must come from the state where the notary is commissioned
Missing county-level authentication when required for older notarized documents
Requesting translation before the apostille is affixed

Pennsylvania Apostille Services — FAQ

Related resources

New Jersey Apostille

For documents issued in NJ.

Federal Apostille

For FBI, USDA, and federal records.

Birth Certificate Apostille

Preparing a PA birth certificate.

Power of Attorney Apostille

For POAs signed in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Service Area

Local pickup and delivery.

Need Help With a Document?

Call, text, or submit a quote request today. We will review your situation and explain the next step.

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