PUERTO RICO · BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND OTHER RECORDS
Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Apostille from Boston
Born in Puerto Rico and need your birth certificate for a marriage, residency, citizenship or study abroad? It has to be apostilled in Puerto Rico, not Massachusetts. We handle the request by mail from Boston, add a certified translation if your country needs one, and ship the finished document anywhere in the world.
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PUERTO RICO APOSTILLE
No trip to the island
We handle the request from Boston.
- Apostille from the Puerto Rico Department of State
- Checks that your certificate is the post-2010 version
- Certified translation if required
- Worldwide shipping with tracking
Why a Massachusetts apostille won't work
An apostille has to come from the government that issued the document. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with its own Department of State, and it is the only office that can apostille a Puerto Rico birth certificate. It doesn't matter that you live in Massachusetts now: the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and the U.S. Department of State can't apostille it.
That surprises a lot of families in Greater Boston, and sending the certificate to the wrong office is one of the most common ways these requests lose weeks. We send it to the right office the first time.
Check the date on your certificate first. Puerto Rico invalidated all birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, as an anti-fraud measure. The Department of State only apostilles certificates issued on or after that date, the newer version printed on blue security paper. If yours is older, order a new certified copy before anything else.
How it works
- 1
Get a current birth certificate
Order a certified copy issued on or after July 1, 2010 from the Puerto Rico Department of Health's Demographic Registry (Registro Demográfico), online or by mail. Already have a recent one? Skip to step 2.
- 2
Tell us where it's going
The country and the office that will receive it. Some countries want the certificate issued within the last few months, so we check that too.
- 3
We prepare and send the request
The original certificate, a cover letter naming the destination country, the required Puerto Rico revenue stamp and a prepaid tracked return envelope, sent to the Department of State's Office of Certifications in San Juan.
- 4
Translation, if needed
Certified translation into the language your country requires, including the apostille when that's asked for.
- 5
Delivered
To you in Massachusetts, or straight to a consulate, attorney or family member abroad, with tracking.
Timing depends on mail and on the Puerto Rico Department of State's processing. Tell us your deadline when you request a quote, and we'll tell you honestly whether it can be met.
Where Puerto Rico birth certificates go
Spain
Marriage, residency and citizenship applications. Usually accepted in Spanish without translation.
Dominican Republic and Latin America
Marriage, residency, property and family matters. Most Latin American countries accept apostilles.
Italy and Portugal
Citizenship by descent, residency and Golden Visa applications, usually with a certified translation. See Citizenship by Descent.
Study and work abroad
University enrollment, work visas and teaching programs that ask for an apostilled birth certificate.
Other Puerto Rico documents we help with
- Marriage and death certificates issued in Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico criminal record certificates (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales)
- Diplomas and transcripts from Puerto Rico universities
- Powers of attorney and deeds notarized in Puerto Rico
- Massachusetts documents for use in Puerto Rico (no apostille needed: we'll tell you what is)
- Certified Spanish–English translations
Each Puerto Rico public document is apostilled by the Puerto Rico Department of State. Documents issued in Massachusetts are apostilled in Boston. See Apostille Services.
Mistakes we help you avoid
- Sending it to Massachusetts or Washington. Only Puerto Rico can apostille a Puerto Rico record.
- Using a pre-2010 certificate. It's no longer valid, so it can't be apostilled.
- Sending a photocopy. The apostille goes on the original certified copy.
- Forgetting the destination country. The request has to say where the document will be used.
- Names that don't match. If your name has changed, you may also need a marriage certificate or court order.
- Translating too early. Some countries want the apostille translated too, so the translation comes last.
If your name has changed
The name on your Puerto Rico birth certificate is the name you were born with. If you now use a married name or have changed your name, the receiving office may also ask for the document that links the two, like a marriage certificate or court order, apostilled as well. A marriage that took place in Massachusetts is apostilled in Boston. A marriage registered in Puerto Rico is apostilled in Puerto Rico.
Tell us about any name change when you request a quote, and we'll make sure your packet tells one consistent story.
What you'll receive
Your certified birth certificate
The original certified copy you sent, issued on or after July 1, 2010.
The Puerto Rico apostille
A certificate from the Puerto Rico Department of State, attached to your birth certificate.
A certified translation, if ordered
Including the apostille when your country requires it.
Tracked delivery
To you, or directly to the consulate, attorney or office that will receive it.
Official sources
- Puerto Rico Department of State: Apostilles
- Puerto Rico Department of Health: birth certificates
- Hague Conference: list of Apostille Convention countries
We link to official sources so you can check the current rules yourself. Requirements change, and the receiving office always has the final word.
Frequently asked questions
Can Massachusetts apostille my Puerto Rico birth certificate?
No. A Puerto Rico birth certificate can only be apostilled by the Puerto Rico Department of State. The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and the U.S. Department of State can't apostille it.
My birth certificate is from before 2010. Can I still use it?
Not for an apostille. Puerto Rico invalidated birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, and the Department of State only apostilles certificates issued on or after that date. Order a new certified copy from the Puerto Rico Demographic Registry first.
I live in Massachusetts. Do I have to travel to Puerto Rico?
No. The Puerto Rico Department of State accepts apostille requests by mail from people outside the island. We prepare the request, send it with tracking, follow it through and get the finished document back to you.
Does the apostilled certificate need to be translated?
It depends on the country. Spanish-speaking countries usually accept it as is. Countries like Italy, Portugal and Brazil generally want a certified translation, and some want the apostille itself translated too. We'll check and can include it in the same order.
Do I need an apostille to use my birth certificate in the U.S.?
No. Puerto Rico is part of the United States, so its birth certificates are used in Massachusetts and other states without an apostille. An apostille is only for use in another country.
How much does it cost?
Every request is a little different, so we provide a personalized quote for each one. Get Your Quote
Need a Puerto Rico document apostilled?
Tell us the document and the country, and we'll confirm every step.