How to get an apostille... in New York and nationwide?

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

If you were born in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens or Staten Island, your birth certificate may look like this. This is a short form birth certificate (also called "Certification of Birth"). It is issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and signed by the City Registrar. At the present time the City Registrar is Gretchen Van Wye, Ph. D. The certificates also have the second signature: Steven P. Schwartz. 

Can a short form birth certificate be apostilled?  The answer is "yes" if it has one of the following signatures: STEVEN P. SCHWARTZ * IRENE A. SCANLON * EARLENE PRICE * IRWING MELLON.

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New York short form birth certificate

Foreign authorities request apostilled or legalized birth certificates for many various reasons including adoption, getting married to a foreign national, obtaining dual citizenship, etc. So, if you only have a New York issued short form birth certificate, can it be apostilled? Or do you have to obtain a long form first?

Short form birth certificates are absolutely acceptable for New York State apostilles or legalization by a foreign embassy. No Exemplification letter is required. The following signatures of City Registrars can be certified directly by one of the courts in New York State: STEVEN P. SCHWARTZ * IRENE A. SCANLON * EARLENE PRICE * IRWING MELLON. After that the document becomes eligible for a New York apostille.

Some foreign countries require that certified copies of birth certificates are recent, e.g. were issued within the last six or twelve months. Please find out the requirements of the receiving foreign country before you start with the process of legalization.

Prices, processing time, order form

New York apostille: $175 (FedEx 2nd day within the U.S. is included).

Processing time: 3-5 bus. days + mail.

Embassy legalization: $375 (most embassies)

Processing time: depends on the embassy.

FedEx (standard overnight): $25

FedEx International is $60 (most countries)

FedEx International to Eastern Europe and South America: $90

New York Apostille / Embassy Legalization Order Form (PDF file)