How to Get an Apostille in New Mexico

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

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Do you have to request a New Mexico apostille online?

Yes, in New Mexico the authentication request must be filed online through the Secretary of State's enterprise portal, even if you plan to bring the document in person or mail it. You complete the request at the state's portal, pay by credit card or e-check, and then include the printed request with your original notarized or certified document when you submit it. This catches people who expect to just walk in with a paper form; the online filing is the entry point either way. Once the online request and the original are together, the office authenticates the signature. If you mail, remember that requests are processed Monday through Thursday, so a packet arriving late in the week waits until the next processing day.

Who issues apostilles in New Mexico?

Apostilles in New Mexico are issued by the Secretary of State, Business Services Division, in Santa Fe, the only office in the state authorized to do so. It authenticates a notarized document or a public record issued by a New Mexico agency, county clerk or the State Registrar of Vital Records, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certification for the rest. It handles New Mexico documents only, so a document from another state goes to that state. For a notarized document, the apostille verifies that the person who notarized it held a valid New Mexico notary commission at the time; all signatures must be original, not photocopies.

How much does a New Mexico apostille cost?

A New Mexico apostille costs $3 per document, the statutory fee and among the very lowest in the United States. You pay online by credit card or e-check when you file the request, or by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State if you mail the packet. As always, the $3 is the state charge only, and any private service adds its own handling fee on top, which is the bulk of the flat rates advertised online. Because the fee is so small and the process is quick in person, New Mexico is one of the cheapest states to handle yourself. Always confirm the up-to-date fee before filing, since it can change.

How long does a New Mexico apostille take?

A New Mexico apostille is usually processed while you wait for in-person requests, and about three business days for mailed requests once received, plus mail transit in each direction. Keep in mind that the Business Services Division processes requests Monday through Thursday, so plan around that four-day processing schedule if your timing is tight. The office returns documents by regular mail unless you request otherwise and provide a pre-addressed, prepaid envelope or a UPS or FedEx airbill; return service by fax or email is not available. For a firm deadline, an in-person visit to Santa Fe with the online request already filed is the fastest route.

Can New Mexico apostille an FBI background check?

No, New Mexico cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending a federal report to Santa Fe means it comes back unprocessed. The New Mexico Secretary of State authenticates documents notarized or issued in New Mexico, such as a New Mexico birth certificate from the State Registrar or a power of attorney notarized by a New Mexico notary. Anything issued federally or by another state is handled by that authority, not here.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: New Mexico Secretary of State, Notary and Apostille, Apostille/Authentications (sos.nm.gov). Always confirm the up-to-date fee and office address before submitting.