If you got married in North Carolina and now need to use your marriage certificate in another country — for immigration, marriage registration, or legal purposes — you’ll need to get it apostilled. This certification is required by foreign authorities to recognize U.S. documents as legally valid abroad.
Common reasons include:
- Applying for a spousal visa
- Proving marital status for legal or financial matters
- Registering a U.S. marriage with a foreign government
- Changing your name abroad
- Sponsoring a partner’s residency or citizenship
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a form of international authentication accepted by over 100 countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms that your document — in this case, your U.S. marriage certificate — is genuine and was properly issued by a recognized U.S. official.
Without an apostille, even an official certified marriage certificate may be rejected by authorities overseas.
What Kind of Certificate Is Accepted?
Only a certified copy issued and signed by the Register of Deeds in the county where your marriage was recorded can be apostilled. The certificate must include:
- An original signature from the issuing official
- A raised or embossed seal
- A clear printed title (e.g. «Register of Deeds, Mecklenburg County»)
Scans, digital printouts, and notarized photocopies will be rejected.
How the Process Works in North Carolina
Once you have the certified copy, it is submitted to the North Carolina Secretary of State. That office will review the certificate and attach the apostille form — making it valid for international use.
If you’re unsure how to start or where to get the right document, here’s where to find everything you need:
👉 North Carolina Apostille Services
Examples of Where Apostilled Marriage Certificates Are Needed
Apostilles are commonly required in Latin American countries, where many U.S. couples move, retire, or conduct legal matters:
- 🇲🇽 Mexico – for registering a U.S. marriage or applying for spousal residency
- 🇦🇷 Argentina – for family reunification or pension claims
- 🇨🇴 Colombia – for legal proof of marital status in immigration cases
- 🇵🇪 Peru – to update civil records or sponsor a spouse
- 🇨🇱 Chile – to validate name changes or marital rights
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica – for visa applications or property transfers
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay – for pension, banking, or legal verification
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic – for registering a foreign marriage
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador – for citizenship or residency sponsorship
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay – for inheritance or social benefits
Who Uses This Service?
We regularly assist clients from across the U.S., not just North Carolina. Apostille requests come from:
- Couples living abroad who got married in the U.S.
- People moving to Latin America for retirement or family reasons
- Residents of Florida, New York, Illinois, or California with documents issued in the Carolinas
- Immigrants updating civil records in their country of origin
Apostille Support in All 50 States
Even though this article focuses on North Carolina, we assist with marriage certificate apostilles nationwide. Whether your certificate was issued in South Carolina, Florida, New York, or any other state — we handle the entire process for you, from document review to final submission.