How to Get an Apostille in New Jersey (2026 Guide)
Getting a document apostilled in New Jersey isn’t complicated once you know who actually issues it, what your document needs first, and where the time really goes. This is the plain-English version — plus how being based minutes from the Trenton apostille office lets us skip the mail.
- Issued by
- NJ Treasury — DORES, Trenton
- Signed by
- NJ State Treasurer
- Applies to
- Hague Convention countries
- Our base
- Minutes from the Trenton office
What an apostille actually is
An apostille is a one-page certificate a government attaches to your document so another country will accept it as genuine. It confirms that the notary or official who signed your document was real and authorized — nothing about the contents. It exists because of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, which lets member countries skip the older, slower embassy-legalization chain.
The key split: if your document is headed to a country that belongs to the Convention, New Jersey issues an apostille. If it’s headed somewhere outside the Convention, New Jersey instead issues a certification, and you then take that to the destination country’s consulate for legalization. Same paperwork on your end — the difference is the destination.
Who issues apostilles in New Jersey
This trips up almost everyone, including a lot of notary sites: in New Jersey, apostilles are not issued by the Secretary of State. They’re issued by the Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), based in Trenton. The finished apostille is a single 8.5×11 page carrying the Great Seal of New Jersey and the signature of the State Treasurer.
One more rule that saves people a wasted trip: New Jersey only authenticates documents that were issued or notarized in New Jersey. A birth certificate from another state has to be apostilled by that state. And federally issued documents — an FBI background check, federal court records — go through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, not through New Jersey at all.
The NJ apostille process, step by step
- Get the right underlying documentA certified copy for vital records, or a document bearing the original inked signature of a New Jersey notary. Photocopies and scans won’t be accepted.
- File the online order with DORESEach order names the specific destination country and generates a cover sheet. You need a separate order for each country the document is going to — even if it’s the same document.
- Submit the document with the cover sheetYou either mail the packet to the Trenton office or drop it off in person. This is the step where days quietly disappear if you mail it.
- The state attaches the apostilleDORES staples the apostille to your document’s signature page. Don’t remove it — a detached apostille can be rejected abroad.
- Receive it backBy your chosen return method, or picked up. From there your document is ready to use in the destination country.
The Trenton hand-delivery edge
Here’s where most of the apostille timeline actually goes: the mail. Mailing a packet to Trenton and waiting for it to come back can add days on each end before the state has even touched it.
We’re headquartered in Mercer County, minutes from the DORES office in Trenton. So instead of mailing, we hand-deliver your documents in person and arrange the return — cutting out the outbound mail delay entirely. For anyone on a deadline for a visa, a marriage abroad, or a job start date, that’s often the difference between comfortable and cutting it close.
Apostille by document type
What you need to prepare depends on the document. The most common ones:
Birth, marriage & death certificates
You need a certified copy — not the keepsake copy from a hospital. NJ vital records from 1923 onward come from the Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics; older records come from the State Archives.
Diplomas & transcripts
Usually notarized as a true copy, or verified by the school’s registrar, before it can be authenticated. Common for teaching jobs, further study, and licensing abroad.
Power of attorney & personal affidavits
These get notarized first — which is where a mobile notary and apostille under one roof saves a step. We can notarize and prep the same visit.
Corporate & business documents
Certificates of good standing, articles, board resolutions, and agreements for overseas deals. Some are state-issued; notarized ones we prepare for you.
FBI & federal documents
FBI identity-history summaries and other federal records are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not New Jersey. We’ll point you to the correct route so nothing bounces.
Single-status & consent letters
Affidavits of single status for marriage abroad, and parental travel-consent letters, are notarized and then apostilled for the destination country.
Apostille by destination country
Every apostille order is tied to one destination country, so it’s worth confirming where your document is going before you start. A few of the most common destinations for New Jersey residents:
India
A Hague member — documents are apostilled, no consulate step needed. Very common for OCI, marriage, and employment paperwork. Full India apostille guide →
China
Joined the Convention in November 2023, so mainland China now takes apostilles instead of the old consular legalization. A recent change many still get wrong.
Mexico, Italy, Spain, Brazil
All Hague members — straightforward apostilles. Popular for dual citizenship, marriage, and property matters.
Philippines & South Korea
Both Convention members. Frequent for family, employment, and study documents.
Canada
Joined in January 2024 — Canada now issues and accepts apostilles too, another recent switch.
Non-Convention countries
Some destinations aren’t Hague members. For those, NJ issues a certification and the document then needs legalization at that country’s consulate. We confirm which path applies to yours.
Translations & special cases
If your document isn’t in English, attach a notarized English translation. One thing to budget for: when you apostille a translated vital record, the state treats it as two documents — you get two apostilles and pay two fees. If the same document is going to two different countries, that’s also two separate orders. We flag these before you’re surprised by the cost.
Timing, cost & getting help
State processing time depends on volume, and mailing adds transit on both ends — which is exactly the part our Trenton hand-delivery removes. Between a mailed do-it-yourself packet and an in-person submission by a local service, the real-world difference is often several days.
For our current standard and rush pricing, turnaround estimates, and the documents we handle, see our apostille services page. If you’d rather just hand it off, we’ll tell you exactly what to gather and take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues apostilles in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), in Trenton — not the Secretary of State. The apostille is a single page carrying the Great Seal of New Jersey and the signature of the State Treasurer.
How long does an NJ apostille take?
State processing runs from a few business days to a few weeks depending on volume, and mailing adds transit time on both ends. Because we’re based minutes from the Trenton office, we hand-deliver in person and skip the outbound mail delay, which is usually where the real time is lost.
Can New Jersey apostille a document from another state?
No. New Jersey only authenticates documents issued or notarized in New Jersey. An out-of-state document must be apostilled in its state of origin, and federally issued documents go through the U.S. Department of State in Washington.
Do I need the original document?
Yes. You need a certified copy for vital records, or a document bearing the original inked signature of a New Jersey notary. Photocopies and electronic-only signatures are not accepted.
What if my document isn’t in English?
Attach a notarized English translation. Note that apostilling a translated vital record produces two apostilles and two fees, since the state treats the translation as a separate document.
Do I need a separate apostille for each country?
Yes. Each order names the destination country, so a document going to two countries needs two separate orders — even though it’s the same document.
Ready to get your document apostilled?
Tell us the document and the destination country. We’ll confirm what you need, notarize if required, and hand-deliver it in Trenton.
