New York City marriage certificate apostille
All marriage records from 1950 to the present, originating from the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island ) are kept in the New York City Marriage Bureau. We can order an extended certified copy of the marriage certificate and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy. Marriage records from 1866 to 1949 are kept in the New York City Minucupal Archives. We can order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate, and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.
How to prepare your New York City marriage certificate for foreign use?
Check if your marriage certificate is eligible for an apostille or embassy legalization. You can save time if you email a copy for a free evaluation.
Make sure that the document you have will satisfy the foreign country of intended use. Some foreign agencies specifically require a long (extended) marriage certificate. Some countires require that the certificate is recent (e.g. issued within the last six or twelve months)
If your marriage certificate is not eligible or does not satisfy foreign requirements, we will be happy to get it for you, and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.
If you have an eligible marriage certificate, submit it for an apostille by mail along with the Order Form.
Marriage certificate with apostille: ORDER ONLINE
If you have an original marriage certificate and it qualifies for an apostille, please send it to us by mail.
New York apostille: $175
Processing time: app. 1-1,5 weeks + mail
Please complete the Order Form and mail it with your original document(s) to
If you are sending your document(s) from a foreign country, please use FedEx, DHL, UPS or TNT, and email the tracking number so that we can watch for your package.
No hidden fees.
Our guarantee: If we are unable to get your documents apostilled or legalized, we will issue a 100% refund, we do not keep any service fees.
Free document evaluation
Want to double check before shipping your document? Email a copy for a free evaluation.
- Short form marriage certificates
- Extended (long form) marriage certificates
- Marriage certificates before 1950
It does not matter whether you have a short form or a long form (extended) marriage certificate, the eligibility for an apostille will depend on the name of the City Clerk of the City of New York who signed the marriage certificate.
If your marriage certificate is signed by one of the following City Clerks, it is acceptable for a New York apostille or embassy legalization.
- Michael McSweeney
- Carlos Cuevas
- David N. Dinkins
- Victor L Robles
If your marriage certificate has the signature of Hector Diaz (City Clerk), it cannot be apostilled as is. You will need to order a new certified copy.
An extended copy of the New York marriage certificate, as compared to a short form marriage certificate, will have the following:
Extended marriage certificates issued before 1996 is a full page document. Sometimes the certificate consists of two pages.Extended marriage certificates issued after 1996 are about half a letter size page.
If your marriage certificate is signed by one of the following City Clerks, it is acceptable for a New York apostille or embassy legalization.
- Michael McSweeney
- Carlos Cuevas
- David N. Dinkins
- Victor L Robles
If your marriage certificate has the signature of Hector Diaz (City Clerk), it cannot be apostilled as is. You will need to order a new certified copy.
This is how a marriage certificate might look if the marriage was registered in 1930.
Why would anyone need a copy of his/her grandparents' marriage license? The most common answer is applying for dual citizenship. The processes and requirements for applying for citizenship are developed by each county and vary from country to country. Many countries require apostilled certified copies of vital events in order to verify an applicant's claim of lineage.
If the marriage was registered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens or Staten Island before 1950, the file will be in the New York City Municipal Archives. All documents are kept on film. To locate the right film, you need to know the year and the borough where the marriage license was issued.
We do a lot of research in the New York City Municipal Archives, and so far, we were able to locate 100% of the records ordered.
How does it work? Our staff member will go to the New York City Municipal Archives, and look through the catalogs. The records are arranged by year, and by borough where the license was issued. The first and most important task is to find the film and the certificate number. We will do this. Then, we will look through the actual film, and find the certificate. After that, the certificate can be printed out and exemplified by the staff of the Municipal Archives. Some experience is required for working with the archived materials.
Order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate form the NYC Archives, with an apostille...
If you have a certificate like this, it does not mean that it is ready for an apostille. The document will need a Letter of exemplification.
An exemplified copy is an official copy of the document issued by a the New York City Municipal Archives with a Letter of Exemplification as shown above. Upon request, the Municipal Archives will issue an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate.
Please note...
Notarized copies of marriage certificates are not acceptable! In fact, New York notaries by law cannot notarize copies of vital records.
Copies certified as true copies by the document custodian (you) are not acceptable! You do need the original document.
Our staff member will go to the Municipal Archives, find the certificate, order an exemplified copy of the certificate, and then we will get it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.
Order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate form the NYC Archives, with an apostille...
Marriage certificates from before 1950 are public records.
Are short form marriage certificates acceptable for apostilles?
Short form marriage certificates are eligible for apostilles / embassy legalization if they have one of the following signatures:
Marriage certificates signed by Hector Diaz (City Clerk) cannot be apostilled directly. Order a new certified copy with an apostille.
Want to double check? Please email a copy of your marriage certificate for a free evaluation.
Please note that some foreign countries specifically require an extended (long) form marriage certificate with an apostille / embassy legalization. Please check before ordering an apostille or consular stamp for a short form! If you need an extended form, we will be happy to get it for you, and have it apostilled / legalized.
Are old marriage certificates acceptable for apostilles?
Old marriage certificates are eligible for apostilles / embassy legalization if they have one of the following signatures:
Marriage certificates signed by Hector Diaz (City Clerk) cannot be apostilled directly. Order a new certified copy with an apostille.
Not sure? Please email a copy of your marriage certificate for a free evaluation.
Some foreign countries require that certified copies of marriage certificates are recent, e.g. were issued within the last sic or twelve months. Always follow the requirements of the country of intended use.
How to get a Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island marriage certificate?
Where to get a certified copy of the marriage certificate if the marriage was registered outside the five boroughs of New York City?
If you were married in the State of New York, outside the five boroughs of New York City, then your marriage records will be on file in two places: (a) with the local city/town/county clerk, where the marriage license was issued, and (b) in the Vital Records Bureau of the New York State Department of Health in Albany.
Can a notarized copy of a marriage certificate be apostilled?
Notarized copies of marriage certificates are not acceptable for apostilles / legalization! In fact, New York notaries by law cannot notarize copies of vital records.
