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Federal Apostille USA

New York

Federal Marriage Record Apostille in New York

How New York residents get their Federal Marriage Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the New York Department of State can and can’t do, timing and price.

Quick answer

Most federal marriage record holders in New York actually have a state-issued record, which goes to the New York Department of State. Only genuinely federal versions go to the U.S. Department of State.

Authenticated by
Depends on the issuer
New York apostille office
New York Department of State, Albany
Our nearest office
New York
Price
$299 per document, government fees included

Married in New York? It’s probably a state record

Marriage certificates issued by a New York county clerk or the state vital records office are state documents, apostilled by the New York Department of State in Albany — not by the U.S. Department of State. Only consular or federally issued marriage records take the federal route.

Send us a photo before ordering and we’ll tell you which route yours takes.

About the Federal Marriage Record

How to apostille a federally issued or consular marriage record for spousal visas and foreign registration.

Check who issued it first. Most U.S. marriage certificates are state documents from a county clerk, which authenticate through that state — not federally. Sending one to the Department of State gets it returned.

What the New York Department of State can do

The New York Department of State in Albany issues apostilles for documents signed by New York officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from New York registrars, New York state-court records, and documents notarized by New York notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters. In New York, a notarized document must first be certified by the county clerk in the county where the notary is registered, before the New York Department of State will act on it.

State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.

Getting it done from New York

We have an office in New York: New York. Most clients still send documents by mail — it’s the fastest route to Washington.

DestinationRouteOur turnaround
Hague Convention countryU.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business days
Non-Hague countryAuthentication + embassy legalization15–17 business days

Serving New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Syracuse and everywhere else in New York.

Federal Marriage Record in New York — FAQ

Can the New York Department of State apostille my Federal Marriage Record?

Only if it's a New York-issued record. County and state-issued versions go to the New York Department of State; genuinely federal ones go to the U.S. Department of State.

Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from New York?

No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most New York clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.

How long does it take from New York?

About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.

How much does it cost?

$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.

Related: Federal Marriage Record — full guide · All documents in New York · Federal vs. state apostille

Ready to start?

Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.