How to Get an Apostille in New York

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the New York Department of State and can change. Confirm current details on the official dos.ny.gov page before you mail anything.

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Tell the tool your document type and count; it applies the fee and shows whether you need the County Clerk step first.

Do you need the county clerk step in New York?

For a notarized document, yes: New York requires the County Clerk to certify the notary's signature before the Department of State will issue the apostille, and this is the single most common thing people get wrong. The certification must come from the County Clerk of the county where that notary is registered, not the county where you live or where the document will be used. So if your document was notarized by a notary registered in Kings County (Brooklyn), the Kings County Clerk certifies it first, even if you are standing in Manhattan. The County Clerk charges a small fee, usually around three dollars, and once that certification is attached, the document is ready for the Department of State. Documents issued directly by a New York State agency, such as certain vital records, skip this step and go straight to the Department of State.

Who issues apostilles in New York?

Apostilles in New York are issued by the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, through its Apostille and Authentication Unit. The office only authenticates public documents issued in New York State that are signed by a New York State official or a County Clerk, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and a certificate of authentication for the rest. It handles New York documents only, so a document from another state goes to that state. A private document such as a power of attorney must be notarized by a New York notary and then certified by the correct County Clerk; a vital record must be a certified copy, never a photocopy, and older municipal records may also need County Clerk certification first.

Where can you get an apostille in New York?

You can get a New York apostille by mail to the Albany office, or in person at five walk-in offices: New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica. Walk-in service is often same day, which is why many New Yorkers travel to the NYC office at 123 William Street or the Albany office at 99 Washington Avenue rather than mailing. There is a ten-document limit per visit, and incomplete submissions are turned away, so arrive with the certified copy or County Clerk certification, a completed cover sheet naming the destination country, and payment. Cutoff times for apostille service can be earlier than general office hours, so check the current hours on the Department of State site before you go.

How much does a New York apostille cost?

A New York apostille costs $10 per document at the Department of State. For mailed requests, payment must be a certified check, bank draft, money order or attorney check made payable to the New York Department of State; personal checks are not accepted, though you can pay by credit card in person. On top of that, the County Clerk certification for a notarized document carries its own small fee, usually about three dollars, so a notarized document costs a little more overall than a state-issued one. As always, these are the government charges only, and a private service adds its own handling fee. Confirm the current fees before submitting, since they can change.

Can New York apostille an FBI background check?

No, New York 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 Albany means it comes back unprocessed. The New York Department of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in New York, such as a New York birth certificate signed by the appropriate official, or a power of attorney notarized by a New York notary and certified by the correct County Clerk. Federal records and out-of-state documents follow their own separate path.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: New York Department of State, Apostille or Certificate of Authentication (dos.ny.gov); New York county clerk apostille pages. Double-check the current figures with the issuing office before you rely on them.