Apostille Service in Pasadena, Texas
Apostille Request Form
The Houston Ship Channel forms Pasadena’s northern border, and the refineries and chemical plants along it have defined the city’s economy for generations. When work in that industry crosses borders, the paperwork has to cross too, and a Texas document is only accepted abroad once it carries an apostille or embassy legalization.
Apostille Authentications handles that step for people and companies in Pasadena. We review your records, prepare the state application and submit it to the Texas Secretary of State, working by mail and courier. Our Texas office is in the same county, at 6124 Hwy 6 N in west Houston, which keeps shipping simple.
Refinery, Chemical and Port Documents
The Pasadena Refining System, a partnership of Petrobras and Astra Holding USA, is headquartered in the city, and Shell Chemical and Lyondell Chemical are major local employers. A 2017 city report summarized on Wikipedia also lists SGS Petroleum Service Corp., Boeing, the Mundy Company, Bayshore Medical Center and the University of Houston-Clear Lake among Pasadena’s largest employers. The Bayport shipping terminal and industrial district add maritime trade to the mix.
Work in these sectors produces requests like these:
- Notarized powers of attorney and contracts for projects, tenders or joint ventures with foreign operators
- Texas good standing certificates and formation documents for a branch registration overseas
- Degrees, craft certifications and safety training records for technicians assigned to facilities abroad
- Marriage and birth certificates so a worker’s family can join them on a foreign assignment
Some destinations popular with energy companies are outside the Hague Convention. The UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, for example, require embassy legalization rather than an apostille. Check your country on our apostille country list.
The Harris County Clerk Annex on Richey Street
Pasadena residents do not need to drive downtown for a certified birth, death or marriage record. According to the Harris County Clerk’s office locator, every annex offers marriage licenses and vital records, and one is in Pasadena.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Annex | 101 S. Richey St., Pasadena, TX 77506 | (713) 274-6230 |
| South Belt Annex | 10851 Scarsdale Blvd., Houston, TX 77089 | (713) 274-6918 |
| Downtown (all services) | 201 Caroline St., 3rd Floor, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 274-8600 |
All county clerk locations are open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Birth and death records are confidential, so only immediate family with valid ID can request them; questions go to the Vital Statistics desk at (713) 274-8690. Texas Vital Statistics (DSHS) can also issue a certificate; select “Apostille” as the reason.
Divorce decrees and other court records come from the Harris County District Clerk, whose public offices are in downtown Houston, including Family Intake at 201 Caroline, 2nd Floor. Customer service for copies is 832-927-5800.
San Jacinto College and Local School Records
San Jacinto College’s Central Campus and district headquarters are in Pasadena, at 8060 Spencer Highway. The campus houses the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, where students train for plant careers. Pasadena ISD serves most of the city, with parts covered by Deer Park, Clear Creek and La Porte ISDs.
Graduates who take those skills overseas may be asked to apostille a certificate, degree or transcript. Because school records are not filed with a government office, the Secretary of State requires a notarized statement from a school official describing the document. Ask the registrar for it when you order.
Workers who earned an industry credential rather than a degree should check who issued it. A certificate from a private training provider or trade body is not a public record, so it usually needs a notarized statement from that organization before Texas can authenticate it. If you are unsure which signature the state will recognize, send us a photo of the document and we will tell you.
Documents for Family Matters Abroad
About two-thirds of Pasadena residents identified as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census, and many families keep close ties with relatives in other countries. Common family requests include:
- Birth certificates for registering a child’s nationality with a consulate
- Marriage certificates for a spouse’s records or residency abroad
- Death certificates to settle property or accounts overseas
- Notarized powers of attorney so a relative can act for you in another country
When a Spanish version is needed, our translation services can be ordered with the apostille. FBI background checks, which are federal, are covered by our FBI apostille service.
Common Problems With Pasadena Submissions
A request can stall for reasons that have nothing to do with the destination country. The issues we see most often are:
- Photocopies instead of certified copies. A copy of your marriage license from home will not work; it must be a certified copy from the County Clerk.
- Incomplete notary blocks. A company letter or affidavit needs a full Texas notarial certificate with the notary’s seal and commission details.
- Old certificates. Copies issued many years ago may be refused; a new one from the Richey Street annex is usually easy to get.
- Federal papers sent to the state. FBI checks and other federal records must go to the U.S. Department of State.
Emailing us a scan before you ship lets us catch these early.
Pasadena Fees, State Turnaround and Ordering Steps
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Texas Secretary of State, per apostille | $15 |
| Apostille Authentications, per document | $195 |
| Combined | $210 per document, plus county copy fees and shipping |
The state’s Authentications Unit at 400 West 15th Street in Austin processes mailed requests within up to two weeks of receipt. Counter service there is same day, with walk-ins on Mondays and Fridays and appointments Tuesday through Thursday. We prepare Form 2102 and manage the submission. See our pricing page for more.
- Tell us the document type and destination country.
- Obtain a certified copy from the Pasadena Annex, the District Clerk, the state or your school.
- Ship it to our Houston office with tracking.
- We confirm the signatures, submit to the Secretary of State, and return the finished document.
Pasadena and Harris County FAQ
Can I order a birth certificate at the Harris County Clerk’s Pasadena Annex?
Yes. The county lists vital records and marriage licenses among the services offered at every annex, including the Pasadena Annex at 101 S. Richey St. Birth and death records are not public, so requests are limited to immediate family members with valid identification.
Where do I get a certified copy of a Harris County divorce decree?
From the Harris County District Clerk in downtown Houston. The office does not list a Pasadena location; its customer service line, 832-927-5800, covers purchasing copies.
I am taking a job at a plant overseas. Which of my documents need an apostille?
It depends on the host country’s work permit rules. Commonly requested items are a university degree, a marriage certificate for a spouse’s visa and an FBI background check. The FBI check is federal and goes to the U.S. Department of State, while Texas records go to the Texas Secretary of State.
Can a San Jacinto College certificate be apostilled?
Yes, after a college official signs a statement about the certificate or transcript before a notary. Ask the college for a notarized copy, and send us a scan to check before mailing.
Does my Pasadena marriage record need to be recent?
The Secretary of State’s guidance says recordable documents, such as marriage and birth records, should be less than five years old. If your certified copy is older, order a new one from the County Clerk before sending it to us.
Request a Pasadena Apostille
Have a Harris County certificate, a San Jacinto College transcript or a company document that needs to go abroad? Call (971) 514-3743, email info@apostilleauthentications.com, or submit our request form.
State specific information
Need statewide details? See our Texas apostille service page for the Texas Secretary of State process, fees and timelines.