How do you notarize and apostille a degree verification in Florida?
A degree verification letter from your Florida institution gets notarized, then apostilled by the Florida Department of State if it's headed to a Hague-Convention country — the same office that issues corporate apostilles.
A degree verification is a letter or form from your college or university confirming you earned a specific degree. For use abroad, it typically needs to be notarized and then apostilled through Florida's Division of Corporations — the sole Florida authority for apostilles — which charges $10 per authentication and processes requests in at least 5 business days. Whether a registrar's signature needs a notarized true-copy or the registrar personally appears before the notary depends on whether the issuing school is public or private.
Public vs. private institution — different notarial paths
Under Fla. Stat. §117.05(12), a notary generally can't attest a copy of a public record when the record's custodian can issue certified copies directly. In practice, a public-institution degree verification usually needs a sworn signature from an authorized school official taken as a jurat, while a private-institution document is more often handled through a notarized Custodian's Affidavit of True Copy attached to the copy.
Apostille vs. non-apostille certification
A Hague-Convention destination country accepts a Florida apostille. A non-Hague country instead needs the Department of State's plain notarial certification, followed by legalization at that country's consulate.
Who signs
- You, or the registrar/authorized school official, depending on the document's wording and whether the school is public or private
- I verify identity and witness the signature
Preparation checklist
- The completed, unsigned degree verification document
- One current government-issued photo ID
- Confirm with your school's registrar which signing path (jurat vs. Custodian's Affidavit) applies to your document before scheduling
What EMC does not do
I don't issue the degree verification itself — that comes from your school's registrar — and I don't file the apostille request.
I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, and I may not give legal advice or accept fees for legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Florida apostille cost?
The state fee is $10 per authentication through the Division of Corporations, with at least 5 business days of processing.
Does it matter if my school is public or private?
Yes. A public-school document generally needs a sworn jurat from an authorized official; a private-school document is more often handled through a notarized Custodian's Affidavit of True Copy.
Can EMC notarize a degree verification remotely?
Yes, by RON.
Does EMC file the apostille request with the state?
No. I complete the notarization; submitting the document to the Division of Corporations for the apostille is handled by you or an apostille service.
Do you handle diplomas and transcripts too?
Yes — see International Transcript Apostille for diplomas, transcripts, and degree verifications together.