Why does New York require County Clerk authentication before the apostille?
The New York Department of State authenticates signatures it has on record. Notary publics and local officials register at the county level, not the state level. The County Clerk confirms those signatures are legitimate, which allows DOS to attach the apostille. NYS Department of Health records issued with the state registrar's signature are already on file with DOS, and skip this step.
What is the Letter of Exemplification, and why does it matter?
It is an additional document issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that authenticates the official who signed your birth or death certificate. It is required for all five-borough NYC vital records before County Clerk certification can proceed. It must be ordered simultaneously with the certified copy - there is no option to retrieve it after the fact. Missing it means restarting your entire vital records order.
My New York birth certificate says "New York State" - does it still need County Clerk certification?
Possibly. Many locally and municipally issued certificates print "New York State" on the face. That does not mean they came from the NYS Department of Health. Only certificates bearing the signature of the Director of Vital Statistics or NYS Registrar are exempt from County Clerk certification. Read the certification section of the document - not the header - to determine the actual issuer.
Where can I walk in for a same-day New York apostille?
Five Department of State offices offer walk-in same-day apostille service: New York City (123 William Street, 19th Floor), Albany (99 Washington Avenue), Buffalo, Binghamton, and Utica. Documents must be fully prepared before arrival - incomplete submissions are turned away. Each location has a per-visit document limit. NYC closes apostille processing at 4:00 PM, Albany at 4:15 PM. Confirm hours at dos.ny.gov before visiting.
How much does a New York apostille cost in 2026?
The Department of State charges $10 per document. Total cost includes the certified copy fee ($15–$30 depending on issuing authority), County Clerk authentication fee ($3–$5 per document where required), the $10 DOS fee, and return postage. For NYC vital records, the Letter of Exemplification is an additional cost. Globeia's service starts at $325 and covers the state fee, county clerk certification fees, document review, coordination, and standard delivery
How do I apostille a New York birth certificate issued in one of the five NYC boroughs?
Order a certified copy and a Letter of Exemplification simultaneously from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Both documents are then certified by the New York County Clerk's Office at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B, Manhattan. The certified package is then submitted to the DOS walk-in office at 123 William Street, 19th Floor, or by mail to Albany. Globeia coordinates this full three-stage process on your behalf.
Can a New York notary public issue an apostille?
No. A notary witnesses signatures and certifies documents - they have no authority to issue apostilles. The apostille is issued only by the New York Department of State. If your document needs notarization before it qualifies for an apostille, that notarization must come from a New York State-commissioned notary, followed by County Clerk authentication of that notary's signature.
I no longer live in New York. Can I still get my documents apostilled?
Yes. Globeia manages the entire process remotely. You upload your documents through our portal from anywhere in the world. We determine the correct certification path, coordinate County Clerk authentication where required, submit to DOS, and deliver your apostilled documents internationally. You do not need to be in New York or in the US.
What payment does the New York Department of State accept for apostille requests?
Payment of $10 per document must be made by certified check, bank draft, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) made payable to "New York State Department of State." Personal checks are not accepted. The 2026 updated apostille request form requires a CVV for all credit card payments - submissions using older forms without this field are rejected at the payment stage.
What happens if Globeia identifies a problem with my documents during review?
We stop before submission. If the review identifies an ineligible certified copy, a missing County Clerk certification, an absent Letter of Exemplification, an outdated request form, or any other issue, we contact you immediately with specific instructions on what to correct or reorder. Your documents go to DOS once, correctly prepared, with everything DOS requires in the package.