A Florida corporate apostille certifies Florida business documents for legal use in any of the 125+ Hague Apostille Convention countries. Florida corporations, LLCs, and other business entities frequently need apostilled documents for international contracts, foreign business registration, banking relationships, mergers and acquisitions, and international compliance. Online Florida Apostille handles in-person submission at the Florida Department of State in Tallahassee — delivering apostilled corporate documents in as few as 3 business days. Call 954-999-4933 Monday through Saturday 7AM to 5PM Eastern.
Which Florida Corporate Documents Can Be Apostilled?
Documents Issued by the Florida Division of Corporations
The Florida Division of Corporations issues official documents that carry the Secretary of State’s certification and are directly eligible for apostille. These include:
- Certificate of Status — Confirms your Florida business entity is active and in good standing
- Certified Copy of Articles of Incorporation — Certified copy of your corporation’s founding document
- Certified Copy of Articles of Organization — Certified copy of your LLC’s founding document
- Certified Copy of Articles of Amendment — Confirms changes to your corporate structure
- Certified Copy of Annual Reports — Certified copies of filed annual reports
These documents can be ordered directly from the Florida Division of Corporations website (sunbiz.org) and are ready for apostille without additional notarization.
Notarized Corporate Documents
Corporate resolutions, authorizations, affidavits, and other internally generated business documents require notarization by a Florida-commissioned notary public before apostille submission. These include:
- Corporate resolutions authorizing specific actions abroad
- Board minutes and consents
- Shareholder agreements and authorizations
- Corporate affidavits
- Incumbency certificates prepared outside the Division of Corporations
Step-by-Step: Florida Corporate Apostille Process
For Division of Corporations-Issued Documents
- Order from sunbiz.org — Log in to the Florida Division of Corporations online system and order a certified copy or certificate of status for your entity. Request certified copies specifically — not uncertified or “plain” copies.
- Contact Online Florida Apostille — Call 954-999-4933. We confirm the document qualifies and provide shipping instructions.
- Ship the original certified document — Send via FedEx or UPS with tracking to Online Florida Apostille in Pompano Beach, Florida.
- We submit in person in Tallahassee — Our agent submits at the Florida Department of State Apostille Section the same day received.
- FedEx overnight return — Your apostilled corporate document ships back in as few as 3 business days total.
For Notarized Corporate Documents
- Draft and execute the document — Corporate resolution, authorization, or affidavit is signed by the authorized corporate officer.
- Florida notarization — An authorized officer signs before a Florida-commissioned notary public. Remote Online Notarization (RON) is available for companies whose officers are located outside Florida.
- Ship to Online Florida Apostille — We perform a pre-submission review and submit in person in Tallahassee.
- FedEx overnight return — Apostilled document returned as quickly as next business day for RON service.
Common Reasons Florida Corporate Apostilles Are Rejected
- Uncertified copies from sunbiz.org — Many business owners download PDF copies from sunbiz.org that are not certified. Only certified copies with the Secretary of State’s seal qualify.
- Photocopied certified documents — The original certified copy is required, not a photocopy of it.
- Incomplete notarial statement — On notarized corporate documents, every element of the Florida notarial statement must be present.
- Non-Florida notary — Corporate documents signed before a notary in another state must be re-notarized by a Florida-commissioned notary before apostille.
- Stale Certificate of Status — Some foreign authorities require a Certificate of Status dated within 30 to 90 days. Order your Certificate of Status close to your intended use date.
International Use Cases for Florida Corporate Apostilles
Registering a Florida Business in a Foreign Country
Many countries require apostilled copies of your Florida Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization before allowing a Florida company to register as a foreign entity or open a branch office. The apostille confirms that your Florida corporate documents are genuine.
Opening International Bank Accounts
Foreign banks frequently require apostilled Certificates of Status and certified Articles of Incorporation to verify that your Florida business entity is legitimate and in good standing. Some banks also require apostilled corporate resolutions authorizing specific individuals to operate the account.
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Joint Ventures Abroad
International M&A transactions often require apostilled corporate documentation as part of due diligence and regulatory filing requirements in the foreign jurisdiction.
Import and Export Licensing
Some countries require apostilled business registration documents as part of the import/export licensing process for foreign companies.
Turnaround Times for Florida Corporate Apostilles
| Service | Turnaround | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard — In-Person Tallahassee | As few as 3 business days | Certified corporate documents, no deadline pressure |
| RON Apostille | Next business day — $299 flat | Notarized corporate documents, urgent deadlines |
| Florida DOS Mail-In | 25–35 business days | Not recommended for business transactions |
Multiple Documents — Volume Orders
International business transactions frequently require multiple apostilled corporate documents simultaneously — a Certificate of Status, certified Articles, and an apostilled corporate resolution, for example. Online Florida Apostille handles multiple-document orders and can coordinate simultaneous submission and return of all documents. Call 954-999-4933 to discuss pricing for multiple-document corporate orders.
Get Started
Call 954-999-4933 Monday through Saturday 7AM to 5PM Eastern. Tell us your entity name, the document type, your destination country, and your deadline. We will give you exact instructions and a quote with no obligation.
Learn more about our Florida Corporate Apostille service, check our country acceptance guide, or use our free document pre-check.