How to Get an Apostille in New Hampshire

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the New Hampshire Secretary of State and can change. Confirm current details on the official sos.nh.gov page before you mail anything.

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Who can notarize a document for a New Hampshire apostille?

In New Hampshire, either a notary public or a justice of the peace can notarize a document for an apostille, which is something the state does that most others do not. Justices of the peace are widely commissioned in New Hampshire and hold notarial powers, so a signature witnessed by a New Hampshire justice of the peace is just as acceptable for authentication as one from a notary public. Whichever official you use, the notarization must be complete, with the full seal and title present, because the Secretary of State will not accept an incomplete notarization. This is the single most common preventable rejection, so check the seal and wording before you submit rather than after a rejected packet comes back.

Who issues apostilles in New Hampshire?

Apostilles in New Hampshire are issued by the Secretary of State, Apostilles and Certifications, located in Room 204 of the State House at 107 North Main Street in Concord. The office authenticates the signature of a New Hampshire notary, justice of the peace or public official, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certification for the rest. It handles New Hampshire documents only, so a document from another state goes to that state. Like other New England states, New Hampshire keeps vital records with the town or city clerk as well as the state, and one rule is firm: it is illegal to make a photocopy of a vital record, so you must submit a certified copy, never a copy you made yourself.

How much does a New Hampshire apostille cost?

A New Hampshire apostille costs $10 per document. If you mail your request, send a check in the correct amount payable to the Secretary of State, using the same Request Form for both apostilles and certificates, and include a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope so the office can return the finished document. As always, the $10 is the state charge only, and a private service adds its own handling fee on top, which is the larger part of the flat rates advertised online. Because the fee is a flat, modest amount, New Hampshire is inexpensive to handle yourself once the document is properly certified or notarized. Because fees can change, confirm the current one before sending payment.

How long does a New Hampshire apostille take?

A New Hampshire apostille is same day for in-person requests, which the office accepts Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., though a large number of documents submitted at once may not be ready until the following business day. A mailed request runs about three to seven business days once it arrives, not counting transit in each direction. If a foreign deadline is firm and you can reach Concord, the walk-in option is the fastest and most reliable route. Include everything in the packet the first time, since a missing form or an incorrect fee is what turns a same-day visit into a return trip.

Can New Hampshire apostille an FBI background check?

No, New Hampshire cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The same is true of USCIS documents, IRS records and federal court orders. Sending a federal document to Concord means it comes back unprocessed. The New Hampshire Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in New Hampshire, such as a New Hampshire birth certificate or a power of attorney notarized by a New Hampshire notary or justice of the peace. Those belong to another office, be they federal or from a different state.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: New Hampshire Secretary of State, Apostilles and Certificates (sos.nh.gov). Before mailing, make sure the fee and address are still current.