Our New York office is at 225 West 34th Street, Floor 9, Office 031, New York, NY 10122, on West 34th Street opposite Penn Station. It handles New York drop-offs and pickups and serves Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
New York has a step most states do not, and it is the single most common reason a New York document comes back rejected. A document notarized in one of the five boroughs, or in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester or Rockland, generally needs county clerk authentication before the Department of State will issue an apostille. Skip it and the document is returned.
Being in the city is what makes that step manageable. The county clerk and the Department of State office are both reachable on foot or by subway, so a document moves between them in hours rather than by post over days.
The city produces a particular kind of work: corporate and banking records going to Europe and the Gulf, academic transcripts, dual citizenship files, and vital records from an office that issues its own birth certificates separately from the rest of the state.
At a glance
The county clerk step, and who it applies to
| Document | County clerk first? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Notarized document, NYC notary | Yes | The clerk authenticates the notary’s commission |
| Notarized document, upstate notary | Usually not | Most upstate counties are handled differently |
| NYC birth or death certificate | No | Issued by NYC Health, goes straight to the state |
| Marriage certificate, NYC | No | Issued by the City Clerk with its own seal |
| Court document | No | Needs the court clerk’s certification instead |
| Diploma or transcript | Yes, once notarized | Notarization triggers the clerk step |
This catches out more New York applicants than anything else. We handle the clerk stage as part of the order rather than sending you to do it.
New York City specifics worth knowing
- NYC birth certificates are not state records. They come from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, not the state vital records office, and a request sent to the wrong one is simply refused.
- Marriage certificates come from the City Clerk, one per borough, rather than from the state.
- The notary must be New York-commissioned. A document notarized in New Jersey goes to New Jersey, even if it was signed in Manhattan.
- Certified copies only. A photocopy cannot be apostilled, however clear it is.
- The UN is not a legalization route. Having a mission in New York does not change what a country requires. The country checker gives the real answer.
How it works
Step 1
Book online
You get an exact price and a drop-off slot before travelling anywhere.
Step 2
Drop it off, or we come to you
Bring the original to 225 West 34th Street, Floor 9, Office 031, New York, NY 10122, or book a notary who travels to you across the five boroughs.
Step 3
County clerk, then the state
We handle the clerk authentication where it is needed, then the Department of State apostille. Both stages, one order.
Step 4
Collect or have it shipped
Free collection at the office, or shipped tracked and insured, with scans emailed the day it is issued.
Apostille Services in New York City: common questions
Where is your New York office?
225 West 34th Street, Floor 9, Office 031, New York, NY 10122, on West 34th Street opposite Penn Station. Please book a drop-off appointment before visiting.
Why does my New York document need a county clerk first?
Because the Department of State certifies the county clerk’s signature, not the notary’s directly, for notaries commissioned in New York City and several neighbouring counties. The clerk confirms the notary’s commission is genuine, and the state then apostilles that. Missing this step is the most common reason a New York document is rejected.
How long does a New York apostille take?
Typically five to eight business days once we have a correct document, with the county clerk stage adding a day or two where it applies. See processing times for current estimates.
Do I have to come to the office?
No. Post the original in, upload it where the document allows, or book a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in the five boroughs.
My birth certificate is from NYC. Is that different from New York State?
Yes, and it matters. NYC birth and death certificates are issued by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, not by the state. A request sent to the state office for a city record is refused, which costs weeks.
Can you handle documents for consulates in Manhattan?
Yes, for non-Hague destinations that require consulate legalization after the apostille. Check the country checker first: most destinations need only an apostille.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
NY Department of State, apostilles · NYC Health, birth and death records
Ready to get started?
Book online for an exact price. We handle the county clerk stage as well, so the document only travels once.
Related: New York apostille · Los Angeles office · All our offices · Processing times