New York Marriage Certificate Apostille Guide
Stop paying expeditors $200+. Submit directly to New York Department of State — correctly the first time.
DIY & Save ~$200
Get your personalized apostille roadmap.
Getting an apostille on your New York marriage certificate means ordering an official certified copy from the office that issued it, then having the state authenticate that copy. This guide walks you through it yourself for the state apostille fee only: $10 per document (apostille/authentication).
- Apostille fee: $10 per document
- Certified copy: Mail orders: $30
- Certified copy from: NYS Department of Health, or the local Town/City Clerk (NYC City Clerk for the five boroughs)
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-02-24); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: New York Department of State
- Note: Only works for New York-issued documents
Get your personalized apostille guide for a Marriage Certificate in New York
Fast, simple, and without overpaying. Find out exactly what you need to do — step by step — in under 2 minutes.
Start My Guide100% free • Takes less than 2 minutes • Save hundreds on service fees
Quick Answer
To apostille a New York marriage certificate, order an official certified copy from New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit), then submit it to New York Department of State with the $10 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para apostillar un certificado de matrimonio de New York, solicite una copia certificada oficial a New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit) y luego envíela a New York Department of State junto con la tarifa de apostille de $10. Tenga en cuenta el tiempo necesario para obtener tanto la copia certificada como el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of your marriage record. It confirms only that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine — it does not verify the facts of the marriage itself.
This matters: the decorative ceremony or keepsake Marriage Certificate handed to you by the officiant is not the official record and cannot be apostilled. Neither can a plain photocopy or a scan.
You must apostille a true certified copy that carries the issuing clerk's raised seal and original signature. Anything else will be rejected, so confirm you are holding the official document — not the souvenir — before you start.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a New York marriage certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Where your marriage certificate is issued
In New York, where you order the certified copy — and where you send the apostille request — depends on where the record was registered. Sending it to the wrong office is one of the most common causes of rejection.
If the marriage license was issued in NYC (any of the 5 boroughs), get the certified copy from the NYC Office of the City Clerk, then have the New York County Clerk certify it before the NY Department of State apostille.
If the license was issued outside NYC, get the certified copy from the town/city clerk where it was issued (or NYS DOH), then have the County Clerk of that county certify it before the apostille.
Who Can Apply
To get a certified copy of a marriage record, you generally need to be an eligible requester with proper documentation. In short
- Certified copy: an official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature.
- Not the keepsake certificate: the decorative certificate from the ceremony or officiant is not the official record and cannot be apostilled.
- Eligible requester: usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required.
Document Requirements
Certified copy
An official certified copy issued by the office that holds the marriage record — with the raised/embossed seal and the issuing clerk's original signature
Not the keepsake certificate
The decorative certificate from the ceremony/officiant is NOT the official record and cannot be apostilled
Eligible requester
Usually one of the spouses or an authorized representative; a valid photo ID is typically required
- •Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
- •Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your marriage certificate and the apostille itself.
Mail orders: $30
Certified marriage certificate (New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit))
$10
Per document
Payment method: Check (U.S. bank), money order (U.S. bank), credit/debit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express) — Cash is not accepted
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | Mail orders: $30 — Certified marriage certificate (New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit)) |
| Apostille fee | $10 — per document |
| Payment | Check (U.S. bank), money order (U.S. bank), credit/debit card (MasterCard/Visa/American Express) — Cash is not accepted |
| Processing — by mail | Drop off requests will not be treated as a priority and will be processed according to receipt date. |
| Processing — in person | Walk-in same-day apostille service is available (NYC, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Utica). |
| Same-day / expedited | Walk-in same-day service is offered. |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified marriage certificate
Start by ordering the certified copy. Order the certified copy from the town or city clerk where the marriage license was issued. Which office issues your record depends on where the marriage license was issued: - If the marriage license was issued in NYC (any of the 5 boroughs), get the certified copy from the NYC Office of the City Clerk, then have the New York County Clerk certify it before the NY Department of State apostille. - If the license was issued outside NYC, get the certified copy from the town/city clerk where it was issued (or NYS DOH), then have the County Clerk of that county certify it before the apostille. Follow the branch that matches where your license was issued — the certification chain differs between the two.
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the County Clerk-certified copy in hand, assemble your packet: the certified copy, the request form, payment, and a return envelope. Use the Required form (https://dos. A NYS DOH copy signed by the State Registrar goes directly to the Department of State; a copy from a town/city or NYC clerk must first be certified by the County Clerk of the issuing county before the apostille.
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
Apostille and Authentication Unit
P.O. Box 22001
Albany
NY 12201-2001 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled marriage certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
Apostille and Authentication Unit
P.O. Box 22001
Albany
NY 12201-2001
Phone
(518) 474-4429
Hours
Albany Apostille Service hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Ceremonial or souvenir certificates from the officiant
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Copies missing the issuing clerk's seal or original signature
Informational or abstract copies where a full certified copy is required
Official Resources
Need help with your New York Marriage Certificate apostille?
Get a clear, personalized roadmap tailored to your exact situation — quick, accurate, and stress-free.
Generate My Apostille StepsFrequently Asked Questions
Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- dos.ny.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- health.ny.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- ww2.nycourts.gov· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit
- New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit)
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your New York marriage certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $10 apostille fee and New York Department of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified marriage certificate (New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (Vital Records Certification Unit)) and the apostille submission addresses.
Save ~$200 • Refund if rejected