Puerto Rico Apostille without traveling: complete online guide

Introduction

If you live outside of Puerto Rico and need to use a certificate of birth, marriage, divorce, bachelorhood, death or other official document in another country, you will probably be required to have an apostille from Puerto Rico. This certification confirms the authenticity of the document for it to be accepted in Hague Convention countries.

Our Law Firm, Abogado Notario Onlineprocesses apostilles directly from Puerto Rico for clients in the United States and any other country, without you having to travel or make lines.

In this article you will find, explained in a clear and straightforward manner:

• What exactly is a Puerto Rico apostille and when do you need it.
• Which Puerto Rican documents are most frequently apostilled.
• The key requirement of the new Demographic Registry format.
• How to process the apostille 100% online, without traveling, with Abogado Notario Online.
• Apostille processing times and delivery options.

If you prefer, you can go directly to the service page here:
Puerto Rico Apostille Service.

1. What is an apostille of Puerto Rico?

The apostille is a certification issued by the Department of State of Puerto Rico to authenticate the signature and position of the official issuing a public document, so that it can be legally used in another member country of the Hague Convention.

In practice:

• It does not alter the content of the document, it only certifies its official origin.
• It is issued in accordance with the Hague Convention for member countries.
• It is attached to the document (usually on a separate sheet, stapled or bound).

When the document will be used outside of Puerto Rico and the United States, foreign authorities usually require this apostille as a standard form of legalization.

Who usually needs an apostille from Puerto Rico?

Some common examples of people who need an apostille from Puerto Rico:

• Persons applying for residency, citizenship or visas in another country.
• Who must prove his or her marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed) before a foreign civil registry.
• Students who wish to validate studies, diplomas or transcripts with a foreign university,
  which usually requires us to process an additional certification that we will add at the time of ordering.
• Heirs who must prove births, deaths or relationships in inheritance proceedings before courts or notaries abroad.
• Individuals or companies that need to apostille powers of attorney, public deeds, affidavits or court rulings for international operations.

In all these cases, the apostille simplifies the acceptance of the document in the other jurisdiction and avoids more complex consular procedures.

3. Most frequently apostilled Puerto Rico documents

Among the most commonly apostilled documents are:

• Certificates from the Demographic Registry of Puerto Ricosuch as:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce certificate
  • Single status certificate
  • Death Certificate
• Puerto Rico Criminal Record Certificate.
• Duly certified diplomas, degrees and academic transcripts.
• Court rulings in certified copy, with their official seals.
• Documents signed before a notary in Puerto Rico, such as affidavits, powers of attorney, deeds of sale, marriage contracts, among others.

This service is oriented to documents issued by Puerto Rico authorities.
Documents issued by other U.S. states must be processed before the authorities of the corresponding jurisdiction.

4. Key requirement: new format of the Demographic Registry.

If what you wish to apostille is a birth, marriage, divorce, bachelorhood or death certificate, you must verify that:

• The certificate must be in the new format, effective since July 2010.
• The document retains the official colors, for example:
  • Birth: blue
  • Marriage: green
  • Divorce: color according to current format
  • Single: color according to current format
  • Death: red

If you only have an old certificate, or you are not sure if your document complies with the required format, you do not need to travel to Puerto Rico: you can add to your order the processing of the certificate and then apostille it within the same procedure.

5. Why do it with Abogado Notario Online?

Abogado Notario Online is a law firm based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that offers legal and notary services 100% online, including obtaining certificates and processing of apostilles for international use.

Among the advantages of the apostille service are the following:

• Processing carried out by an attorney from Puerto Rico, taking care of stamps, forms, appointments and lines before the corresponding agencies.
• 100% online service for clients in Puerto Rico, the United States and the rest of the world (everything is coordinated online).
• Bilingual attention (Spanish and English), useful when you also have to coordinate with foreign authorities or universities.
• Fixed price per apostille, clearly indicated on the product page.
• Outstanding reviews from clients who have already used the service for apostilles and other formalities related to official certificates.

You can review the information and place your order directly at:
Puerto Rico Apostille Service.

6. Step by step: how is the apostille process?

6.1. Verify your document

First, confirm if you already have the original document issued in Puerto Rico.

• If it is a Demographic Registry certificate (birth, marriage, divorce, bachelorhood or death), check that it is in the new format and legible.
• In the case of diplomas, transcripts, court rulings or other documents, verify that they are duly certified or in official copy.

If you do not have the correct document, you can add to your order the processing of the certificate, so that the law firm will manage it in Puerto Rico and, once issued, it will be sent to apostille.

6.2. Ordering an apostille online

On the apostille service page:
https://abogadonotarioonline.com/producto/apostillas/

• Indicate how many apostilles you need (general rule: one apostille for each original document).
• Fill in your basic contact and shipping information.
• Finalize payment using the secure options available to customers in the U.S. and abroad.

6.3. Send the original document to Puerto Rico

Once the order is completed:

• You will receive the mailing address in Puerto Rico and detailed instructions for sending the original document.
• You will be able to choose the method of shipment to us that is most convenient for you (federal mail, FedEx, UPS or DHL).

6.4. Processing of apostilles

When the document arrives in Puerto Rico:

• The firm is in charge of handling Internal Revenue stamps, forms and lines before the Department of State and other necessary agencies.
• The physical apostille is obtained and attached to the original document according to the official format.

6.5. Return of the apostille to the client

Once the process is completed, the apostilled document is sent to the address you have indicated.

In addition to physical delivery, we offer the additional option of electronic format (PDF) of the apostilled document, so that you can keep a digital copy organized with your other documents.

7. Apostille processing and mailing times

7.1. Processing times: normal, fast and urgent

According to the current service description, the processing times (excluding shipping time) are:

• Normal Service: 15 working days.
• Fast Service: 10 working days.
• Urgent Service: 5 working days.

Processing times may vary depending on the workload of public agencies and the time of year, or other situations (holidays, power outages, government systems breakdowns, water shortages, storms, strikes, etc.). It is always advisable to start the process as early as possible if you have a deadline.

7.2. Shipping: Puerto Rico, U.S.A. and International

The shipping cost is calculated at the time of ordering, taking into account your address and the type of service selected. In general:

• Puerto Rico: federal mail.
• United States: federal mail or FedEx.
• International: FedEx.

When placing your order you will be able to see the shipping options and how they impact the total cost of your order.

8. Frequently Asked Questions about the Puerto Rico Apostille

8.1. May I apostille documents issued by other U.S. states?

No. This apostille service is focused on documents issued by Puerto Rico authorities (Registro Demográfico, Puerto Rico courts, Puerto Rico notaries, among others). Documents from other states must be handled before the authorities of your own jurisdiction.

8.2. Can I send only one scanned copy by e-mail?

No. For the apostille to be valid, the original document to be used abroad must be worked on. Scanned copies can be used for an initial evaluation, but the formal procedure requires the original on paper. This way, you will be on the safe side wherever the apostille is requested.

8.3. Is it mandatory to travel to Puerto Rico to apostille?

No. The service is designed precisely to avoid the client having to travel. You place the order online, send your documents by mail to Puerto Rico, and the firm handles the apostille and returns the apostilled document to your country of residence.

What happens if my Demographic Registry certificate is too old?

If the certificate does not comply with the new format in effect since July 2010, it is advisable to add an updated certificate and then apostille it, in the same order. We can manage that certificate in Puerto Rico and, once issued, include it in your apostille order.

8.5. In what language is the apostille issued?

The Puerto Rico apostille is issued in an official format that includes information in Spanish and English. In addition, upon request, we offer the additional option of receiving a PDF of the apostilled document as a complement to the physical delivery.

9. Next step: start your apostille process today

If you need to use a document issued in Puerto Rico abroad, the most efficient way is to coordinate everything with a law firm that operates from the island and is dedicated to these procedures on a daily basis.

Abogado Notario Online offers an apostille service:

• 100% online, no need to travel.
• With direct attention from a lawyer.
• Experienced in certificates and other official documents of Puerto Rico.

You can start the process now by visiting:
Puerto Rico Apostille Service.

If you have specific questions (e.g. document combinations, deadlines or requirements of a particular country), you can use the question form available on the same page before sending your original documents.