Texas Vital Record
Texas Birth Certificate Apostille
Texas SOS currently uses a Universal Apostille workflow. For birth records, success starts with a certified Texas record and a complete Form 2102 packet.
This page is optimized for low-rejection filing: correct document class, current fee logic, realistic processing expectations, and destination-country risk checks.
Reviewed by Amelia Rivera
Lead Apostille Specialist • Verified February 2026
Updated
February 2026
Content and source verification
Texas Fee Baseline
$15
Per universal apostille (standard)
Mail Timeline
Up to 25 Business Days
From receipt; can exceed in high demand
At a Glance - Texas Snapshot
| Apostille Authority | Office of the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit |
|---|---|
| Certificate Type | Universal Apostille (serves apostille/authentication roles per Texas SOS) |
| State Fee | $15 per document (standard); adoption uses separate reduced-fee form path |
| Required Form | Form 2102 (Request for Universal Apostille, rev. 11/2025) |
| In-Person Service | Appointments Tue-Thu; walk-in queue Mon/Fri; same-day processing target for eligible requests |
| Mail Service | Can take up to 25 business days from receipt; current processing may exceed this timeframe |
| Recordable Rule | Recordable documents must be issued within the past five years |
| Primary Rejection Risk | Submitting non-certified records or incomplete Form 2102/payment packet |
Accepted and Not Accepted for Texas Birth Records
Texas SOS treats birth certificates as recordable documents. The certified-record path and issue-date window are critical.
Accepted
- Certified Texas birth certificate from authorized vital-record channels.
- Record issued within the five-year recordable-document window.
- Packet with Form 2102, payment, and destination-country details.
- Intact original record with legible signature and stamp/seal.
Not Accepted
- Photocopies, print scans, or altered copies.
- Out-of-state birth certificates sent to Texas SOS.
- Old recordable documents outside SOS issue-date limits.
- Packets missing destination-country entry on Form 2102.
Requirements Checklist
Must Have
- Certified Texas birth record in acceptable condition.
- Form 2102 with country, contact, and return-shipping details.
- Correct payment method for your submission channel.
- Pre-addressed return envelope/label with valid billing method.
- Country-level legalization check (Hague vs non-Hague).
Destination-Country Checks
- Non-Hague countries may require U.S. State Department follow-up authentication.
- Some authorities require very recently issued vital records.
- If translation is required, confirm sequence before filing.
- Use separate apostilled records for separate countries when needed.
Mail Packet Checklist
Use this order to reduce matching and processing errors.
- Certified Texas birth certificate (recordable document).
- Completed Form 2102 with destination country.
- $15 per document payment (check/money order or SOS client account path).
- Prepaid, pre-addressed return envelope or carrier label.
- Optional cover page with phone/email for issue resolution.