Birth Certificate Apostille and Embassy Attestation

There are different types of birth certificates available in the United States. All of them are acceptable for the domestic use, like obtaining a driver license or opening a bank account. But only specific ones are acceptable for apostille processing and embassy attestation. 

As a general rule the Certified Copy of the Birth Certificate needs to be recently issued Certified document. Many countries will specifically require that the documents and apostilles are recent. Further, some states also impose document issue date requirements. In Virginia, all Birth Certificates must be issued within a year of apostille and authentication processing. Documents older than one year are not eligible to receive apostille authentication certificate or certificate of great seal. In Texas, similar principle is applied. TX Birth Certificates must be issued within last five years to be accepted for apostille authentication processing. 

There are many details when it comes to Birth Certificates in different states. Although it is not possible to cover all of them, we will try to review the most common issues. 

California Birth Certificates

In California, birth certificates can be issued by the local vital records office and county clerk office. Both are fine for apostille authentication certificate. However, documents from local vital records are usually signed by the local registrar with the MD title. Such birth certificates must be presented for County Clerk Authentication before apostille request is placed. 

New Hampshire Birth Certificates

New Hampshire is an exception to all states vital records processing, including birth certificates and notary procedures. To be eligible for apostille authentication certificate, New Hampshire Birth Certificate must be notarized. However, you cannot just take it to the notary. It is important to place the request for the Birth Certificate with Notary right away. In this case it will be notarized right away at the NH Department of Health. 

New Jersey Birth Certificates

Similarly to California, NJ Birth Certificates can be issued by the NJ State Department of Health or local vital records offices. If Birth Certificate is issued by local office and contains signature of the municipal registrar, New Jersey apostille authentication certificate will not be issued. Birth Certificates must have signature of the NJ State Registrar to be acceptable for New Jersey Apostille.

New York Birth Certificates

In the State of New York there are multiple level or vital record processing. Most importantly, the New York City records are maintained separately from the reset of the New York State. 

Birth Certificates recorded in any of the five boroughs of the New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island) must be requested from the NYC Department of Health. It is imperative when placing the request, the reason is stated as apostille. This is the only way to receive Exemplification Letter which is required for NYC Birth Certificates for use outside of the United States. Without Exemplification of Birth, New York City Birth Certificates are not eligible for apostille authentication. 

Outside of the NYC, Birth Certificates issued by the local vital records, must go through the Office of County Clerk for authentication and only then submitted to NY Secretary of State for Apostille.

Birth Certificates from NYS Department of Health are eligible for apostille as is. 

Puerto Rico Birth Certificate

All birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010 were canceled on October 30, 2020. There for all birth records issued before that day are no longer valid for either domestic use or apostille. A new certified copy must be request from Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico.

Virtually all Birth Certificates are private documents. Some states do allow retrieval with the Power of Attorney, other states do not. For instance, Texas, New York City and Pennsylvania, will not issue the birth certificate to a third party, even with the express notarized authorization.