CDC Document Apostille

Issuing agency

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

We can obtain it?

No — you request it from the issuing source

Certification first?

Depends — federal records authenticate directly; state records don't

Also known as

vaccination record, health certificate, CDC letter, yellow card

Foreign universities, employers, and immigration authorities sometimes require an authenticated U.S. health or vaccination document. Where the record is genuinely CDC-issued, it authenticates federally through the U.S. Department of State.

But here's the part most people get wrong, and it's worth checking before you order anything.

What counts as a CDC document

The CDC issues certain health documents, letters, and records in specific circumstances — and those, being federal, authenticate through the U.S. Department of State. What the CDC does not generally do is hold or issue individual vaccination histories for the public; those live with your healthcare provider or your state's immunization registry.

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the yellow card) is a related case: it's a WHO-format document completed by an authorized provider, not a record the CDC issues to you on request.

Why it needs an apostille abroad

A foreign authority cannot verify a U.S. health document independently. The apostille from the U.S. Department of State certifies a federal document as genuine across the 120-plus Hague Convention countries; non-Hague destinations need that authentication plus embassy legalization.

Getting the right document

Start by identifying who actually issued what you have. If it's a genuine CDC-issued document, send it to us and we authenticate it federally. If it's from a provider, clinic, or state immunization registry, it's a state-level document — which means it authenticates through that state's Secretary of State, usually after notarization or state certification. We offer state document services and can route it correctly.

Is your record actually federal?

Quick test — who signed and sealed it?

• CDC-issued document or letter — federal. Authenticates through the U.S. Department of State. This is what this page covers.
• Provider, clinic or hospital record — not federal. Routes through the state, typically via notarization and state certification.
• State immunization registry printout — a state record. Routes through that state's Secretary of State.
• Yellow card (ICVP) — completed by an authorized provider, not issued by CDC on request. Usually routed as a state document.

If you're unsure, send us a photo before ordering. Getting this right at the start saves weeks.

Document preparation requirements

• Confirm who issued the document before ordering — federal vs. state changes the entire route.
• Submit the document exactly as issued.
• Do not notarize a federal record — it invalidates it for authentication.
• Don't laminate, staple across the seal, highlight, or annotate it.
• Tell us the destination country and what the foreign authority actually asked for.

The step-by-step process

1. Send us a photo first

   We confirm whether your document is federal or state-issued, and what the destination requires — before you pay anything.

2. Obtain the right document

   If what you have won't work, we tell you what will and where to get it.

3. Send it to us

   Mail the original once we've confirmed it's the right document and route.

4. Authentication

   Federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.; state documents route through the issuing state's Secretary of State.

5. Apostille or authentication issued

   You receive the apostille (Hague) or authentication certificate (non-Hague).

6. Embassy legalization & translation, if required

   For non-Hague destinations we handle embassy legalization, and arrange certified translation where required.

Common rejection reasons — and how to avoid them

Common uses

• Foreign residency and visa applications — where health documentation is part of the file.
• Study abroad and university enrollment — immunization requirements for international students.
• Employment overseas — particularly healthcare, education, and government roles.
• Travel to countries with entry health requirements — where proof must be authenticated.

Hague vs. non-Hague countries

Pick your destination below, or see all countries we serve.

Official references: CDC — Vaccination Records · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document. Government fees are set by these agencies and are separate from our service fee.