If you were born in New Jersey and need to use your birth certificate abroad, most foreign authorities will not accept a regular U.S. certificate on its own. They typically require a certified New Jersey birth certificate and an apostille from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES).
An apostille is an international certificate that authenticates a public document so it can be recognized in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
When you use a New Jersey birth certificate in another country, foreign civil registries, consulates, and immigration offices usually want assurance that:
The apostille provides exactly that. It does not change what the birth certificate says; it simply confirms that the document was truly issued by New Jersey and signed by an authorized registrar.
Not every "birth certificate" you have at home will work for an apostille. For New Jersey, a birth certificate used for apostille must:
Key Point
For an apostille, New Jersey generally requires a state-issued certified copy (state registrar in Trenton), not a notarized photocopy and not a hospital souvenir certificate.
Common situations where a New Jersey birth certificate apostille is requested:
Consulates require apostilled birth certificates to confirm place and date of birth before granting citizenship.
Foreign civil registries often need your birth certificate as part of a marriage or partnership file.
Authorities abroad may ask for apostilled birth certificates for residency permits, study visas, or work visas.
Adoption processes frequently require apostilled birth certificates for both the child and adopting parents.
Universities and licensing bodies may ask for an apostilled birth certificate to verify identity and age.
In New Jersey, apostilles and state seals are issued by:
Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)
Apostille / Notary Unit
DORES can only apostille documents that:
If your birth certificate was issued in another U.S. state, New Jersey cannot apostille it. You must request the apostille from the state that issued that certificate.
Before doing anything else, check:
Look for:
To obtain a birth certificate that can be apostilled, you generally need to order a certified copy from the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or through their approved channels.
Specify apostille use
On many applications, you can indicate that the certificate is needed for foreign use / Apostille Seal.
Provide complete information
Full name, date of birth, place of birth (city or county in NJ), parents' names, and required ID.
Choose delivery method
By mail, in person, or through an approved online service such as VitalChek.
Pay the vital records fee
This fee is paid separately to Vital Statistics (not the apostille fee).
When your certified birth certificate arrives, check that it has all of the following:
Remember: The apostille is attached directly to this certified certificate. If the certificate itself is not in the right format, the apostille request may be rejected.
New Jersey uses an online system to initiate apostille requests for both birth certificates and other documents.
Access the DORES Apostille Portal
Go to the official DORES apostille portal and start a new request.
Enter your information
Contact details, destination country, and number of documents.
Select document type
Indicate that you are submitting a vital record (birth certificate).
Pay the apostille fee
$25 per document (standard) or $5 per document (adoption-related).
Print the confirmation page
The portal will provide a confirmation to include with your documents.
Mail your documents to DORES
Include the original certified birth certificate and order confirmation.
Use a traceable mailing method so you can see when your envelope arrives.
If you are on a tight timeline or prefer to hand-deliver your documents, you can use in-person service at the DORES Customer Service Center in Trenton.
In-person requests can often be completed the same business day, especially when you pay the additional expedited fee, subject to queue and office hours.
| Service | Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Apostille (per document) | $25 | 10-15 business days + mail time |
| Adoption-Related Apostille | $5 | 10-15 business days + mail time |
| In-Person / Expedited Service | $25 + additional fee | Same day or next business day |
Here are typical reasons New Jersey apostille requests for birth certificates get delayed or rejected:
Using a municipal or local-only certificate
DORES often requires a state-level certificate with the State Registrar's signature.
Not a certified copy
Plain photocopies, hospital souvenir certificates, or scans printed at home are not valid.
Missing seal or signature
The certificate must have a raised seal and original signature from an authorized official.
Certificate from another state
New Jersey cannot apostille a birth certificate issued in another state.
Not using the official portal
Sending documents without completing the online request can lead to delays.
Wrong fee or missing payment
If the payment is incorrect or not processed, the apostille cannot be issued.
Damaged or altered documents
Removing staples, separating pages, or writing on the certificate may cause problems.
A person born in New Jersey is applying for Italian citizenship through ancestry. The Italian consulate requires an apostilled birth certificate and a certified Italian translation. The applicant orders a certified NJ birth certificate, requests an apostille via the DORES portal, provides the apostilled certificate to a professional translator, and submits both to the consulate.
A New Jersey-born individual plans to marry in Spain. The Spanish registry asks for a birth certificate with apostille and Spanish translation. The person gets a state-level certified certificate, has it apostilled through DORES, uses an official sworn translator, and files the apostilled and translated certificate with the Spanish civil registry.
A university in Germany requests an apostilled birth certificate to finalize enrollment and visa processing. The student orders a certified NJ birth certificate, requests a New Jersey apostille, and sends the apostilled certificate to the German consulate or university admissions office as requested.
No. New Jersey can only apostille documents that were issued in New Jersey. If your birth certificate comes from another state, you must contact that state's apostille authority.
You can sometimes use an existing certified birth certificate, but it must be in good condition and meet all current requirements (state security paper, seal, registrar's signature). Many people choose to order a new certified copy specifically for apostille to avoid problems.
In New Jersey, the apostille is usually attached directly to the original certified vital record, not to a notarized copy. It is generally not recommended to rely on notarized copies for birth certificate apostilles.
If the destination country does not use English, a translation is often required. Most of the time, you will obtain the apostille first, and then have both the certificate and apostille translated by a certified or sworn translator. Always confirm the exact requirements with the foreign authority.
The apostille itself does not technically expire, but many consulates and registries only accept documents issued within a certain timeframe (for example, issued within the last 3 or 6 months). Check the rules of the specific country.
In many cases, yes — as long as they have the original certified birth certificate and follow the DORES procedures. However, only you or an authorized person can request the birth certificate itself if ID or relationship proof is required.
You may reuse it if you physically still have it, but many institutions keep or retain originals. If you know you will submit documents to multiple agencies, consider obtaining more than one certified copy and more than one apostille.
If you are preparing several documents for use abroad, these related New Jersey guides are often useful:
Review Date
November 2025
Valid For
2026
Next Review
May 2026
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Procedures, fees, and processing times may change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, the New Jersey Department of Health – Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, and the foreign authority requesting your documents.
Reviewed by: Amelia Rivera, Compliance Editor — Apostille Pro USA