Puerto Rico Apostille: Fees, Processing Time & How to Order (2026)
Puerto Rico apostilles are issued by the Puerto Rico Department of State for a fee set by the territory. Mail orders take about 10–20 business days; counter service by appointment is available — verify the current fee and appointment process with the department of state in san juan before relying on this page.. Documents headed to a non-Hague country need authentication and embassy legalization instead of an apostille.
| Government fee | Confirm with the authority — Fee not yet primary-source-confirmed — verify before publishing. |
|---|---|
| Competent authority | Puerto Rico Department of State |
| Mail processing | 10–20 business days |
| Counter option | counter service by appointment — Verify the current fee and appointment process with the Department of State in San Juan before relying on this page. |
| County pre-certification | Not required |
| Payment | check, money order |
| Official page | Puerto Rico Department of State → |
Check your exact Puerto Rico steps
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Step-by-step: order a Puerto Rico apostille by mail
- Get the right certified copy. Puerto Rico vital records come from the PR Demographic Registry (Registro Demografico).
- Prepare a cover sheet. Include a signed cover sheet naming the destination country, payment payable to the authority above, and a prepaid return envelope. Confirm exact requirements on the official page linked in sources.
- Add payment. Pay the current fee by check or money order, payable to the Puerto Rico Department of State.
- Include a return envelope. Add a prepaid, trackable return envelope so your apostille comes back safely.
- Mail it to the Puerto Rico Department of State and keep your tracking number. Mail turnaround is about 10–20 business days.
Walk-in / same-day option
Verify the current fee and appointment process with the Department of State in San Juan before relying on this page. Bring the certified document, a completed cover sheet, and payment. Counter rules change often, so confirm hours on the official page before you drive in.
Which documents can Puerto Rico apostille?
These are state-issued documents. Each guide covers the exact copy type and steps for that document in Puerto Rico.
| Birth certificate | A certified copy of a birth record, apostilled by the issuing state for use abroad. |
| Diploma / degree certificate | A diploma, typically notarized, apostilled for work or teaching abroad. |
| Marriage certificate | A certified marriage record apostilled by the state that recorded it. |
| Power of attorney | A notarized power of attorney apostilled for property or banking acts abroad. |
| Single status affidavit | A sworn affidavit of no marriage record, apostilled — a near-universal foreign-marriage requirement. |
| Notarized document | Any notarized document (consent letters, copies, statements) apostilled by the state. |
| Academic transcript | A sealed or notarized transcript apostilled for foreign admission or credential evaluation. |
| Death certificate | A certified death record apostilled for foreign probate, insurance, or repatriation. |
| State police / background check | A state criminal-history record apostilled when an FBI check is not demanded. |
| Corporate documents | Articles, good-standing certificates, and resolutions apostilled for foreign business use. |
| Divorce decree / judgment | A court-certified divorce judgment apostilled for remarriage or status proof abroad. |
| Adoption documents / home study | Court-certified or notarized adoption paperwork apostilled for intercountry adoption. |
| Certified translation + affidavit | A translator's notarized affidavit apostilled to accompany a translated document. |
Federal documents are different
Some documents never go to Puerto Rico. FBI background checks, IRS letters (like Form 6166), and naturalization certificates are federal — they go only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications, at $20 per document. If you hold one of these, start at the federal channel guide instead.
Going to a non-Hague country?
If your destination is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, an apostille is not enough. You need the Puerto Rico authority's certification, then US Department of State authentication, then embassy legalization. Use the Country Checker to see your destination's chain, or read apostille vs. authentication.
Common rejection reasons in Puerto Rico
- Submitting a photocopy or a hospital souvenir certificate instead of a certified copy.
- Wrong or missing payment — Puerto Rico expects check or money order payable to the authority.
- No return envelope, or an untracked one, which stalls the whole order.
Frequently asked questions
＋How much does an apostille cost in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico sets its own fee through the Puerto Rico Department of State. Confirm the current amount on the official page before sending documents, since territory fees are not always published centrally.
＋How long does a Puerto Rico apostille take?
Mail processing runs about 10–20 business days. You can also use counter service by appointment — Verify the current fee and appointment process with the Department of State in San Juan before relying on this page..
＋Can I get a Puerto Rico apostille in person?
Yes. Verify the current fee and appointment process with the Department of State in San Juan before relying on this page. Bring the certified document, payment, and a completed cover sheet.
＋Does an old birth certificate still work for a Puerto Rico apostille?
Age is usually fine as long as it is a current certified copy with the registrar's seal. Puerto Rico vital records come from the PR Demographic Registry (Registro Demografico).
＋Do notarized documents need extra steps in Puerto Rico?
No. Puerto Rico apostilles notarized documents directly — there is no county-clerk pre-certification step.
Neighboring states
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the Puerto Rico Department of State and the HCCH status table(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.