Documents issued or notarized in New Hampshire are apostilled by the Secretary of State's Office (Apostilles and Certificates) (New Hampshire Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of New Hampshire public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and New Hampshire-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues apostilles for Apostille Convention countries and certificates for countries outside it.
Where to file
| Secretary of State's Office, State House Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301 | |
| In person | New Hampshire State House, Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:15pm; documents are processed while you wait, but large batches may not be ready until the following business day. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.sos.nh.gov/apostilles-and-certificates |
How to get a New Hampshire apostille
- Confirm the document is a New Hampshire public document
The Secretary of State's Office (Apostilles and Certificates) authenticates signatures of New Hampshire officials and New Hampshire-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Prepare the request
Complete the request form (official form), naming the destination country so the office issues an apostille (Hague country) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague country).
- Submit the document, fee and return envelope
Submit by mail to Secretary of State's Office, State House Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301; in person at New Hampshire State House, Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH (Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:15pm; documents are processed while you wait, but large batches may not be ready until the following business day.). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: Same day in person; mail turnaround not published. Expedited: No formal expedite; walk-in service is effectively same-day.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. Cash or check payable to State of New Hampshire. In-person batches of 10 or more documents that you wait for incur an additional $25 per group of 10 (10-19 docs = $25, 20-29 = $50) under RSA 5:10.
Processing time: Same day in person; mail turnaround not published
Expedited: No formal expedite; walk-in service is effectively same-day.
Documents New Hampshire will apostille
- Documents notarized by a NH notary public or justice of the peace
- Certified vital records from town/city clerks or the Division of Vital Records
- Public documents signed by NH public officials
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Federal documents such as FBI background checks, naturalization papers and passports
- Photocopies of vital records
Notarized documents
Must be notarized by a New Hampshire notary public or justice of the peace who witnessed the signature; a notary's seal must appear. The office does not notarize documents.
New Hampshire does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Must be an original certified copy from the town/city clerk or NH Division of Vital Records Administration in the form required by RSA 5-C:98 and 5-C:99. The office states it is illegal to photocopy a vital record.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
New Hampshire-specific points
- Bulk surcharge: $25 extra per block of 10 documents when waiting in person (RSA 5:10).
- Walk-in counter inside the State House, Room 204, open until 4:15pm.
- Justices of the peace are accepted notarizing officers alongside notaries.
- Any NH town or city clerk can issue a vital record acceptable for apostille, not only the state registry.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
New Hampshire does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a New Hampshire resident is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — see the federal section. For destinations outside the Hague Convention, the New Hampshire authentication certificate must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and legalized at the destination's embassy (how the chain works).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in New Hampshire?
The Secretary of State’s Office (Apostilles and Certificates) charges $10 per document. Cash or check payable to State of New Hampshire. In-person batches of 10 or more documents that you wait for incur an additional $25 per group of 10 (10-19 docs = $25, 20-29 = $50) under RSA 5:10.
How long does a New Hampshire apostille take?
Same day in person; mail turnaround not published Expedited option: No formal expedite; walk-in service is effectively same-day..
Can I get an apostille in person in New Hampshire?
Yes. Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:15pm; documents are processed while you wait, but large batches may not be ready until the following business day.
Does New Hampshire require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Secretary of State’s Office (Apostilles and Certificates) provided the notary is commissioned in New Hampshire and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a New Hampshire resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by New Hampshire. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
