The "5-Year Rule" for Birth Certificates
Old Documents Risk Rejection
Arizona is known for rejecting birth/death certificates that are older than 5 years.
Why? Because they verify the signature of the State Registrar, and they may not keep signatures from 20+ years ago on active file. To be safe, order a new certified copy from the AZ Dept of Health Services.
Fill Out the Request Form (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Contact Info
Provide your name, address, and phone number. This is where your completed apostille will be mailed.
Step 2 — Document Information
List the country of destination. This is required.
Step 3 — Payment
Include a check or money order. Credit cards are generally only accepted for in-person walk-ins.
$3.00 × Number of Documents
Mailing Checklist
Include these items:
- Request Form — Completed
- Your Document(s) — Preferably issued within last 5 years
- Payment — Check/Money Order ($3 per doc)
- Return Envelope — Large, self-addressed, with postage (Prepaid FedEx/UPS labels preferred for tracking)
Common Rejection Reasons (AZ-Specific)
- Old Documents — Sending a birth certificate from the 1980s.
- Wrong Size Envelope — Using a standard letter envelope for a legal-sized document (it will get folded/damaged).
- Missing Country — Failing to list the destination country.
Where to Mail
Arizona Secretary of State
Attn: Apostille Dept.
1700 W. Washington Street
7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Attn: Apostille Dept.
1700 W. Washington Street
7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007