Birth Certificate Apostille - New York City

Before you can begin the apostille process, you need a certified copy of your birth certificate - which means that you need a long-form birth certificate with a letter of exemplification. If you haven't already, you can order one from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or online through Vitalchek. Remember, photocopies are not acceptable for apostille purposes.

Once you have your certified birth certificate, the next step is to authenticate it by the County Clerk's Office. This step verifies the signature and seal on your document. You can do this in person or by mail. Notary911 offers authentication and apostille services for NYC-issued birth certificates. 

After the County Clerk's authentication, you must submit your document to the New York State Department of State for the actual apostille. This can be done either by mail or in person.

When submitting your request, make sure to include:

• The authenticated birth certificate
• A cover letter stating the country where you'll be using the apostille
• The required fee of $10 per document

If you send your request via mail, the Department of State will attach the apostille to your document and return it within 2-3 weeks.  We provide expedited apostille service, which guarantees a 1-business-day turnaround.