Central America
Florida apostille for Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a frequent destination for retirees and companies. Registro Civil and universities want Florida apostilles on vital records and school documents.
Does Costa Rica take a Florida stamp?
Yes. Offices in Costa Rica accept the Florida foreign-use stamp (apostille) on a document that was issued in Florida or notarized by a Florida notary.
Costa Rica is a frequent destination for retirees and companies. Registro Civil and universities want Florida apostilles on vital records and school documents.
Corporate documents for opening a Costa Rican company should be recent Sunbiz good-standing certificates.
Spanish
Costa Rica es destino frecuente para retiro y empresas. El Registro Civil pide apostilla de Florida.
Who actually stamps the document
The embassy of Costa Rica does not add this stamp to a Florida document. The Florida Department of State in Tallahassee does.
If Costa Rica asks for a translation, get the Florida stamp first, then translate. Translating first is usually the wrong order.
How to order from Florida
On the order form, pick the document and choose Costa Rica as the destination. Upload a photo or scan. Pay. Ship the original. We review it, take it to the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee, and send it back with tracking.
Standard filing is $125. Rush is $199. Florida state fees are added on the order: $10 per document, or $20 if a county clerk certified it. See prices.
Documents we file most often for Costa Rica
Families and firms sending files to Costa Rica usually start with a Florida birth certificate, a Florida marriage certificate, a power of attorney, or a Florida school record. Court documents need the county clerk first. See every document type.
If you are in Costa Rica right now
You can still file a Florida document. Ship the certified original to our Tallahassee desk. If you still need a notary on a new statement, it must be a Florida video notary — not a local notary in Costa Rica. Download the True and Correct Copy PDF if that is the form you were told to use.
Mistakes we stop before you ship
Photocopies. Church marriage booklets. Court website printouts. FBI reports sent as if Florida could stamp them. And paying for a Florida stamp when the country does not take it.
Documents we see for Costa Rica
- Florida birth certificate
- Florida marriage certificate
- Florida diploma or transcript
- Sunbiz corporate document
Questions people ask
Will Costa Rica accept a Florida apostille?
Yes, on a Florida-issued or Florida-notarized original. Not on a photocopy. Read this page and the document checklist.
Can I email a scan to Costa Rica instead of the original stamp?
Most offices in Costa Rica want the original document with the stamp attached. Ask the office that requested it. We ship the original back to you.
Do I translate first?
Usually no. Get the Florida stamp on the original document, then translate. Ask the office in Costa Rica if they want it the other way.
Can a notary in Costa Rica sign the document for Florida?
No. Florida only authenticates a Florida notary or a Florida agency. If you are in Costa Rica and still need a notary, use a Florida video notary.
How long does it take?
After we have the original, standard is about 3–5 business days. Rush is the next business day we can drop it. Shipping from Costa Rica to us is extra time on the way in.
What does it cost?
$125 standard, $199 rush, for the first document. Prices. Email help@floridafastapostille.com.