What an apostille is
An apostille is a certificate from the New York Department of State confirming that the signature of a New York official on your document is genuine. Countries that belong to the Hague Apostille Convention accept it in place of embassy legalization. For countries outside the convention, the state issues a certificate of authentication instead.
A notary does not issue the apostille. The state does. The concierge service is doing the legwork so the document arrives at the state in a form they will accept.
The New York process for a notarized document
- Notarization. The document is notarized by a New York notary with a complete notarial certificate.
- County clerk authentication. The clerk of the county where the notary is qualified certifies the notary's signature. County clerks charge $3 per authentication.
- Department of State. The authenticated document goes to the Department of State with the apostille request form and the state fee of $10 per document.
Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates follow a different path and usually need a certified copy from the issuing office rather than a notarization. The full walkthrough is in how to get an apostille in New York.
Documents that commonly need an apostille
- Powers of attorney for use abroad
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates
- Corporate documents and certificates of good standing
- Affidavits, including single-status affidavits for marriage abroad
- Adoption and immigration paperwork
What the concierge service covers
Notarization where required, delivery to the county clerk, preparation of the Department of State request, submission, and return of the finished apostille to you. Pricing is quoted per job because it depends on the number of documents and how fast you need them. Government fees are passed through at cost.
Before you start, confirm with the receiving country or agency exactly which documents they want and whether they need translations. That is the one step I cannot do for you, and it is the most common reason apostilled documents get rejected overseas.
Related guides
Common questions
How long does a New York apostille take?
It depends on the Department of State's current processing time and whether the request is mailed or presented in person. Tell me your deadline when you call and I will tell you what is realistic before you commit.
How much does an apostille cost in New York?
The government fees are $3 per notary authentication at the county clerk and $10 per document at the Department of State. The concierge fee for handling the process is quoted per job.
Can you apostille a birth certificate?
The state can, but a birth certificate is not notarized first. It usually needs a certified copy from the issuing office, and the path depends on where it was issued. I can tell you which path applies to yours.
Do I need an apostille or an authentication?
If the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, you need an apostille. If it is not, New York issues a certificate of authentication and the document usually needs further legalization by that country's consulate.