New York Apostille

New York Department of State (Secretary of State) apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in New York, for $10 per document. Pick the document and the country to see what it needs first and how to send it. This runs in your browser and stores nothing.

New York office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

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Pick the state where the document was issued, recorded or notarized, not the state you live in.

Choose who issued the document, the kind of document and the country to see the steps.

Who issues apostilles in New York

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in New York come from New York Department of State (Secretary of State) (Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $10 per document. (source)
  • Certificate of Authentication (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $10 per document (same fee as an apostille). (source)
  • New York County Clerk (Manhattan) certification of a New York City record, paid to the County Clerk before the Department of State step: $3 (source)

How to send a request

  • By mail (Albany): mail the document with its certifications, the request form and payment (check, money order or card with CVV; no cash) to the Albany unit (source)
  • In person (New York City): same-day walk-in at the New York City (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Albany (9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica counters, up to 10 documents per customer; drop-off at Albany and New York City only, not prioritized (source)
  • Request form: DOS-1917-f Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request (use the newest version on the forms page)
  • The request must name the country where the document will be used.

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • Walk-in service is same day, limited to 10 documents per customer. (source)
  • The request form now asks for a card CVV; use the newest request form for card payments or the payment is rejected and the documents returned. (source)

What New York needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • A birth, death or marriage certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health and signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or NYS Registrar goes straight to the Department of State, with no County Clerk step. (source)
  • A certificate issued by a local or county official or county health department must first be certified by the County Clerk of the county where it was issued. (source)
  • For New York City records, have them certified by the New York County Clerk's Office; when ordering an NYC birth or death certificate, also request a Letter of Exemplification. (source)
  • Check who issued your copy: the words New York State on it do not mean the state Department of Health issued it, and only state Department of Health copies skip the County Clerk. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • A Certificate of Divorce issued by a local or county official must first be certified by the County Clerk of the county where it was issued; other court records are not described. (source)

Notarized document (power of attorney, affidavit, consent letter, translation)

  • Have the notary's signature certified by the County Clerk of the county where the notary is qualified before sending it to the Department of State. (source)

School diploma or transcript

  • Have an official of the school certify that the document is an official record or a true copy, and have that official's signature notarized. (source)
  • Then have the notary's signature certified by the County Clerk of the county where the notary is qualified. (source)

Other state-issued document (business certificate, state background check)

  • For a New York State criminal background check, get the copy signed by the DCJS representative (no notarization needed) and submit it with the DCJS cover letter. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

For a country outside the Apostille Convention, New York Department of State (Secretary of State) issues its Certificate of Authentication instead of an apostille. Then:

  • A Certificate of Authentication may also need certification from the U.S. Department of State before you submit it to the foreign country. (source)
  • For a country outside the Convention, send the state-certified document to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, with Form DS-4194 and the $20 fee per document. (source)

Last, the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the United States legalizes it; ask it about its own steps, fees and timing before you send anything.

What the office will not accept or handle

  • Cash payments. (source)
  • Federal and FBI background checks must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to New York Department of State (Secretary of State).
  • It does not cover documents from another state or a federal agency; those go to their own office.
  • It does not list embassy legalization rules for countries outside the Convention.
  • It does not promise processing times; fees and forms change, so check the office's page before you send originals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get an apostille in New York?

New York Department of State (Secretary of State) issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in New York. The fee is $10 per document. Requests can be mailed to the office in Albany. The office also serves people in person; check its page for hours and any appointment rule before going.

How do I apostille a birth certificate from New York?

A birth, death or marriage certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health and signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or NYS Registrar goes straight to the Department of State, with no County Clerk step. A certificate issued by a local or county official or county health department must first be certified by the County Clerk of the county where it was issued. For New York City records, have them certified by the New York County Clerk's Office; when ordering an NYC birth or death certificate, also request a Letter of Exemplification. Check who issued your copy: the words New York State on it do not mean the state Department of Health issued it, and only state Department of Health copies skip the County Clerk. Then send it to New York Department of State (Secretary of State) with the $10 fee, naming the destination country.

Does a document notarized in New York need a county clerk certification first?

Yes. Have the notary's signature certified by the County Clerk of the county where the notary is qualified before sending it to the Department of State.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

New York Department of State (Secretary of State) issues its certificate of authentication instead of an apostille. Send it next to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications (Form DS-4194, $20 per document); the destination country's embassy or consulate then legalizes it.

How do I get an apostille for an FBI background check?

An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so a state office cannot apostille it. The U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications handles it: send Form DS-4194, the document and the $20 fee per document. The form asks for the country where the document will be used.

Do I need a paid apostille service?

No. Every office on this page accepts requests directly from the public by mail, and some take them online. A service can only file the same request with the same office for you.

Sources

New York office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

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