Texas Apostille & Document Authentication

Official records and private documents

Birth certificates, marriage licenses and court decrees require an eligible Texas-issued record or certified copy. A notary cannot replace the issuing office’s certification of a recordable document. Private affidavits and powers of attorney follow the Texas notarization requirements.

Check age and completeness

Texas requires certified records issued within the past five years. Submit the original eligible record or original notarized document, not a photocopy of it. A private document needs the signer’s statement and a complete notarial certificate, signature, seal and date.

Prepare the request

Use Form 2102, or Form 2103 for adoption, name the destination country and include payment. Texas does not apostille federal documents. Its universal certificate may require further authentication for a non-Convention destination.

Plan for the actual route

Premier’s typical other-state service estimate is 5–7 business days, subject to document review and authority availability. Shipping is additional. This is not the state’s published mail-processing time. Texas currently advises at least two weeks for mailed requests after receipt.

Frequently asked questions