Do I need to notarize a New York birth certificate before apostille?

No. A certified birth certificate is a public vital record and is not notarized. What matters is issuer and signature chain: NYS Department of Health records can go directly to NYS DOS, while local or county issuers require county clerk certification first.

How much is the New York apostille fee?

The New York Department of State fee is 10 dollars per document. This fee is separate from the fee to obtain the birth certificate and any county clerk fee.

Do NYC birth certificates need extra steps?

Yes. For NYC birth certificates, NYS DOS states you must request a Letter of Exemplification and then obtain certification from the New York County Clerk before submitting to NYS DOS.

How long does New York apostille processing take?

NYS DOS currently indicates mail requests are taking at least four weeks, plus shipping time. Walk-in same-day service is available at designated counters for eligible submissions.

Can someone else submit my documents for apostille?

Yes. A third party can submit documents, as long as the package is complete and includes the correct form, fee, and return mail instructions.

Can I apostille a hospital birth certificate or a scan?

No. Hospital keepsakes, plain scans, and uncertified copies are not accepted for apostille. Use a certified copy issued by the proper records authority.

What if my destination country is not in the Hague Convention?

Use a Certificate of Authentication instead of an apostille. NYS DOS notes that non-Hague destinations may also require U.S. Department of State and consular legalization.

Can New York apostille a birth certificate from another state?

No. New York only authenticates New York-issued public documents. Out-of-state birth certificates must be apostilled by the issuing state.

New York Vital Record

New York Birth Certificate Apostille

This page follows the current NYS Department of State rules for apostilling birth certificates. The key risk in New York is submitting the wrong issuer path: NYS Department of Health records can go directly to NYS DOS, while many local and NYC records require county clerk certification first.

Reviewed by Amelia Rivera

Legal Operations Review - Updated February 16, 2026

Start New York Birth Certificate Apostille View Requirements

At a Glance - NY 2026 Rules

Apostille Authority	New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
State Fee	$10 per document (NYS DOS fee)
Issuer Rule	Issuer determines path: NYS DOH-issued birth records can go directly to NYS DOS; local/county issuers require county clerk certification first.
NYC Birth Certificates	Require Letter of Exemplification and certification by New York County Clerk before NYS DOS.
Mail Processing	NYS DOS currently indicates at least 4 weeks for mail requests, plus mailing time.
Walk-In Service	Same-day walk-in counters are available in NYC/Albany/Binghamton/Buffalo/Utica; DOS limits same-day service to 10 documents per customer.
Mail Address	NYS DOS Apostille and Authentication Unit, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001
Courier Physical Address	Division of Licensing Services, 1 Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231
Return Shipping	Returned by first-class mail unless you include a prepaid express label.

Most NY rejections happen at Step 2

The most common failure is sending a valid birth certificate through the wrong certification path.

Local or county-issued birth records must be certified by that county clerk first.
NYS DOH records signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or NYS Registrar can go directly to NYS DOS.
NYC birth certificates require a Letter of Exemplification before New York County Clerk certification.

Accepted vs. Not Accepted Documents

Accepted

- Certified New York birth certificate issued by NYS DOH with proper signature chain.
- Certified local or county birth certificate that has county clerk certification.
- NYC long-form birth certificate with Letter of Exemplification and New York County Clerk certification.

Not Accepted

- Hospital souvenir birth records.
- Plain photocopies, scans, or prints from a portal.
- Out-of-state birth certificates (must be apostilled by issuing state).
- NYC records missing Letter of Exemplification where required.

Requirements Checklist

MUST HAVE

Certified birth certificate: Issued by NYS DOH, local registrar, or NYC DOHMH.
County clerk certification when required: Required for local/county issuers and NYC path.
NYS DOS Apostille Request Form: Complete country, contact, payment, and return shipping fields.
Correct payment: $10 per document payable to "N.Y.S. Department of State".
Return mail instructions: First-class return or prepaid courier label.

COMMON REJECTION TRIGGERS

Issuer confusion: Assuming every NY document can skip county clerk because it says "New York State".
Missing NYC exemplification: Sending NYC birth records without Letter of Exemplification where required.
Bad payment packet: Wrong payee, missing CVV for card payments, or incomplete request form.
Non-valid record: Souvenir certificate or uncertified copy.

Recent verification log

Feb 16, 2026Validated NYS DOS apostille fee, issuer/County Clerk rules, and submission addresses.

Feb 16, 2026Validated NYC birth certificate apostille path (Letter of Exemplification + New York County Clerk).