Birth Certificate Apostille - New York City

NOTARY911 doesn’t provide or help to obtain New York birth certificates or letters of exemplification.

Apostille Procedure

Step One: Obtaining the Record

Suppose a person requires official proof of their birth in New York City with an apostille or certificate of authentication. In that case, the applicant must obtain a copy of the birth certificate with a letter of exemplification from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Vital Records Division. They will issue the letter of exemplification only upon request. Applications may be made in person at the Department’s Office, by mail, or online.

There are restrictions on who may submit the applications (the person named in the certificate or parents). Proof of identity is required.

Currently, in-person orders of NYC birth certificates are suspended until further notice. If you have an emergency request for health care coverage, government services, military, or employment, call 311 or email [email protected].

Processing applications by mail takes about 4-5 weeks.

Online applications must be paid for by credit, debit card, or electronic check. Online applications (Vitalchek) are processed for 2-4 weeks.

Example of the long-form NYC birth certificate

Example of the short-form NYC birth certificate

Step two: County Clerk Authentication:

  • Submit your certified birth certificate and letter of exemption to the New York County Clerk's Notary Desk. You can mail them to the County Clerk

  • The County Clerk will verify the signatures and issue an Authentication Certificate.

Step Three: Apply for the apostille from the New York Department of State:

  • Complete the Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form. You can find it online or at the Department of State office.

  • Include your authenticated birth certificate and Letter of Exemplification, the completed request form, and a $10 fee.

  • You can submit your documents in person at the Department of State office in Albany, New York, or by mail.

Short vs. a Long Form of NYC Birth Certificate

Did you know that there are two types of birth certificates?

The first is the short-form birth certificate, which provides basic information about an individual's birth, such as name, date, and place of birth.

The second type is the long-form birth certificate, which includes more detailed information about the individual's birth, such as the names of their parents and attending physician. Both birth certificates serve the same legal purpose: establishing proof of birth in the United States.

Long Form NYC Birth Certificate

A long-form birth certificate, also known as a "Vault copy" in New York City, contains all the information you would expect to see on a birth certificate.

This includes the full name, date and time of birth, the exact place of birth (such as the hospital address), gender, the name of the doctor or midwife who attended the birth, parents' full names (including the mother's maiden name), parents' dates and places of birth, and signatures.

The long-form birth certificate is a digital image of the original paper document that carries the signatures of those present at birth. It measures 8.5" x 11" and is often accompanied by a Letter of Exemplification.

You will require a long-form birth certificate if you are trying to obtain a new passport, apply for dual citizenship, or other similar purposes.

Short Form NYC Birth Certificate

A short-form birth certificate, also known as a Certification of Birth, includes all the necessary information about an individual's birth, such as their name, date of birth, and place of birth. However, it does not contain detailed information about the individual's parents or signatures.

Although a short-form birth certificate can be used to prove citizenship and identity, it may only sometimes be accepted for specific applications.

Short-form birth certificates are often referred to as "abstracts" because they only provide some of the information included in a long-form birth certificate.

Overall, a short-form birth certificate aims to verify that a full birth certificate has been filed for the individual in question.