New York marriage certificate apostille
Need to present your New York marriage certificate abroad?
Whether you are applying for dual citizenship, pursuing residency or immigration, registering a marriage in another country, or handling legal and family matters overseas, your marriage certificate must be officially recognized.
For international acceptance, a New York marriage certificate requires an apostille under the Hague Convention—or embassy legalization if the destination country is not a member.
We manage the entire process for you, ensuring your marriage certificate is properly authenticated and ready for use abroad, quickly and without hassle.
Have multiple documents from different states? No need to search each state.New York apostille requirements for marriage certificates
Obtaining an apostille or embassy legalization for a New York marriage certificate can feel confusing. New York issues different versions of marriage certificates depending on where they were filed and the year of issuance, and not all qualify for an apostille. Some require additional steps, such as county clerk authentication, before they can be legalized for international use.
Here’s what you need to know:
NYC marriage certificates (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island): All marriage records from 1950 to the present, originating from the five boroughs of New York City 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.
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.
Important! Some foreign countries specifically require apostilled extended marriage certificate. If you have a short form marriage certificate, make sure it will be acceptable to the receiving foreign agency.
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:
- information about the spouses' parents: names and places of birth
- number of times the spouses were married before
- witnesses' names
- a color stamp and an original signature of the Deputy City Clerk on the back
An extended marriage certificate issued before 1996 is a full page document. Sometimes the certificate consists of two pages. An extended marriage certificates issued after 1996 are about half a letter size page.******
Marriage certificates from outside NYC (issued by local town or city registrars) generally qualify for an apostille if they are original, certified copies. However, they must often be authenticated by the county clerk before being sent to the New York Department of State.
Some counties require newly issued certificates, while others may accept older ones. We handle the county authentication on your behalf. To avoid delays, email us a copy of the certificate for a free document evaluation. We’ll confirm if it’s eligible and advise on the next steps.
Letters of Exemplification are not issued for marriage certificates except for certified copies kept in the NYC Municipal Archives.
Where to get a certified copy eligible for an apostille?
NYC marriage certificates: We can assist you in obtaining a certified copy of a Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island marriage certificate and have it apostilled. ORDER ONLINE.
Other counties: You need to contact the City/Town Clerk where the marriage license was issued or the NYS Department of Health.
If you have an original marriage certificate, you can email a copy for a free document evaluation.
Get a New York apostille
Send the original marriage certificate by mail along with the Order Form and we will be happy to assist you with obtaining a New York apostille. The authentication by the county clerk (if required) is included in the price. Please note that county clerk authentication might require additional processing time.
In the State of New York, as in all U.S. states, an apostille is a separate page attached to the document by an eyelet. It is signed by a Deputy Secretary of State (facsimile signature) and has a blue Seal of the Department of State of the State of New York.
New York apostille: $175
Processing time: app. 5 bus. days + 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.
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.
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.
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.
