We get this question all the time. The 2 document types are quite similar in fact.
An ‘Original’ document, like a Birth Certificate or a Marriage Certificate is the document that is issued at the time of the event. A ‘Certified Copy’ of your birth certificate is a copy made by the state agency charged with storing the documents. The Local Vital Records Office will record this information in their databases to maintain an official record on file in their offices. In instances where a copy of a certificate needs to be regenerated, a Certified Copy of the original document is then issued, generally on security or watermarked paper. A Certified Copy of a birth certificate issued by the Local Vital Records Office will have a raised seal, will show the signature of the Local Registrar, and will be printed on security paper.
Oftentimes when applying for Visas many foreign government agencies require that you Apostille your Birth Certificate. To obtain an Apostille, you must present either the Original or the Certified Copy of the original for authentication to the state in which the certificate is issued. Every state agency has different requirements on which certificates are eligible for Apostilles.
Let us help you navigate the various state requirements. We are
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