Department of State Apostille - New York, NY

NYS Department of State: Apostille and Authentication Unit

Document Authentication Services

The Apostille and Authentication Unit of the New York State Department of State maintains a vital walk-in counter at 123 William Street, 2nd Floor, in New York City. This office is essential for individuals and businesses who need to use New York-issued public documents internationally. An Apostille is a specialized form of authentication for countries that are members of the Hague Convention, while a Certificate of Authentication is used for non-member countries. This unit verifies that the official who signed your document (such as a County Clerk or State Official) is in good standing, thereby validating the document for foreign use.

Process and Requirements

Visitors to the 2nd Floor office can submit documents for same-day or expedited processing, subject to current volume and policies. Common documents processed here include Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Decrees, and notarized documents. Crucially, before bringing a document here, it must often first be authenticated by the County Clerk where the document was issued or the notary is qualified. For example, a NYC birth certificate must first go to the County Clerk (at 60 Centre St) before coming to this State office. The office accepts payment via check or money order; cash is typically not accepted.

• Issuance of Apostilles
• Certificates of Authentication
• Document Verification for International Use

Hours and Access

The Apostille unit typically operates Monday through Friday. While general building hours may vary, the counter service for Apostilles usually closes earlier than the general licensing division, often by 3:30 PM or 4:00 PM, so early arrival is strongly recommended. The office is located on the 2nd floor, separate from the main Division of Licensing Services on higher floors. Access requires passing through building security. This location provides a critical alternative to mailing documents to Albany, significantly speeding up the legalization process for urgent matters.