Short answer. The New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit issues apostilles here for $10 per document, by mail and in person. Walk-in requests the same day; mailed and dropped-off requests are processed by receipt date (no number of days is stated). A county step comes first for vital records and notarized documents.
At a glance
- Issuing office
- New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit Official page
- Fee
- $10 per document.
- How to submit
- By mail, walk-in same-day service in New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica (up to 10 documents), or drop-off in Albany and New York City.
- Processing time
- Walk-in requests the same day; mailed and dropped-off requests are processed by receipt date (no number of days is stated).
- Request form
- Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request Form Open it
- Mailing address
- New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001 (express carriers: 1 Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231)
What each document needs first
- Vital records
- Records issued by a local or county official must first be certified by the county clerk of the county where they were issued; records signed by the state Department of Health's registrar don't need that step. New York City records are certified by the New York County Clerk's Office. County step first: The county clerk certifies notarized documents and locally issued vital records before the Department of State.
- Notarized documents
- Notarized documents must first be certified by the county clerk of the county where the notary is commissioned. County step first: The county clerk certifies notarized documents and locally issued vital records before the Department of State.
- School records
- The school official's signature on the certification must be notarized (then the notary goes through the county clerk).
Checklist by document
- Vital record: county step first
- Notarized document: county step first
- Court record: no county step first, 1 step not confirmed
- FBI background check: no county step first
- School record: county step first
Worth knowing
The Department authenticates only public documents signed by a state official or a county clerk, so most documents pass through a county clerk first. New York City birth and death certificates also need a Letter of Exemplification. Federal and FBI background checks go to the U.S. Department of State.
MCC Solutions handles New Jersey apostilles, and our guide explains how to get an apostille in New Jersey. For other states, this page lists the office's own process.
Official sources
- Apostille or Certificate of Authentication, New York Department of State (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice. Use the office's own request form where it has one. Federal records, including FBI checks, go to the U.S. Department of State, and a destination outside the Hague Convention also needs embassy legalization.
Common questions
Who issues apostilles in New York?
The New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit. $10 per document.
How do I apostille a New York birth or marriage certificate?
Records issued by a local or county official must first be certified by the county clerk of the county where they were issued; records signed by the state Department of Health's registrar don't need that step. New York City records are certified by the New York County Clerk's Office. The county clerk certifies notarized documents and locally issued vital records before the Department of State.
Can a notarized document from New York be apostilled directly?
Not directly: The county clerk certifies notarized documents and locally issued vital records before the Department of State. Notarized documents must first be certified by the county clerk of the county where the notary is commissioned.
How long does an apostille take in New York?
Walk-in requests the same day; mailed and dropped-off requests are processed by receipt date (no number of days is stated). Allow extra time for mail and for any certified copy you still need to order.
Can I get a New York apostille in person or online?
By mail, walk-in same-day service in New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica (up to 10 documents), or drop-off in Albany and New York City.
How is a New York school record apostilled?
The school official's signature on the certification must be notarized (then the notary goes through the county clerk).
All states: how to get an apostille in each state · Nebraska · Pennsylvania