Documents issued or notarized in New Jersey are apostilled by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Notary Public Unit (Apostille/Certification) (New Jersey Department of the Treasury). The office authenticates the signatures of New Jersey public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and New Jersey-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues apostilles for Hague countries and certifications of the public official for non-Hague countries.
Where to file
| NJ Division of Revenue, Notary Public Unit, P.O. Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646 | |
| In person | 33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608 In-person delivery accepted 8:30am-2:00pm; wait up to 2.5 hours; availability depends on workload, so call 609-292-9292 first. Expedited requests must be delivered in person or by UPS/FedEx (no USPS). |
| Online | All requests start at the Online Apostille/Certification Service (njportal.com/dor/apostille): pay by credit card or e-check, print the confirmation page, then mail or drop off with originals. Separate online request required for each destination country. |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://www.nj.gov/njbonds/treasury/revenue/apostilles.shtml |
How to get a New Jersey apostille
- Confirm the document is a New Jersey public document
The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Notary Public Unit (Apostille/Certification) authenticates signatures of New Jersey officials and New Jersey-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 online — All requests start at the Online Apostille/Certification Service (njportal.com/dor/apostille): pay by credit card or e-check, print the confirmation page, then mail or drop off with originals. Separate online request required for each destination country.; by mail to NJ Division of Revenue, Notary Public Unit, P.O. Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646; in person at 33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608 (In-person delivery accepted 8:30am-2:00pm; wait up to 2.5 hours; availability depends on workload, so call 609-292-9292 first. Expedited requests must be delivered in person or by UPS/FedEx (no USPS).). The fee is $25 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: 12-20 business days (standard) from receipt and entry into the system. Expedited: $40 per document, 8.5 business hours from receipt; delivered in person or via UPS/FedEx to 33 West State Street. 1-2 hour accelerated service by phone arrangement.. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $25 per document. $25 standard; $40 expedited; adoption documents $5 standard / $20 expedited (no service fee). Plus $2.50 credit card or $1.00 e-check service fee on non-adoption orders. 1-2 business-hour accelerated service available at 'substantially higher fees' by calling 609-292-9292. A notarized translation attached to a vital record is charged as a second apostille.
Processing time: 12-20 business days (standard) from receipt and entry into the system
Expedited: $40 per document, 8.5 business hours from receipt; delivered in person or via UPS/FedEx to 33 West State Street. 1-2 hour accelerated service by phone arrangement.
Documents New Jersey will apostille
- Documents notarized by a NJ notary public
- Certified NJ vital records (Dept of Health or State Archives)
- Documents certified by county clerks and other NJ public officials
- Notarized English translations (separate apostille each)
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Vital records from other states
- Documents without original inked signatures
Notarized documents
Notarized documents must bear the original inked signature of the NJ notary public and the original inked signature of the person who presented the document.
New Jersey does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Records dated Jan 1, 1923 or later from the NJ Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (609-292-4087); pre-1923 records from the NJ State Archives. Must be certified copies; vital records from other states cannot be apostilled.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
New Jersey-specific points
- Competent authority is the Treasury Department, not a Secretary of State.
- Online pre-payment is mandatory; the printed confirmation must accompany the mailed/dropped documents.
- Expedited (8.5 business hours) requests cannot be sent by USPS; only hand delivery, UPS or FedEx.
- Adoption dossiers get a discounted $5/$20 fee with no card service fee.
- Office warns not to remove the stapled apostille from the signature page.
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
New Jersey does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a New Jersey 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 Jersey 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 Jersey?
The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Notary Public Unit (Apostille/Certification) charges $25 per document. $25 standard; $40 expedited; adoption documents $5 standard / $20 expedited (no service fee). Plus $2.50 credit card or $1.00 e-check service fee on non-adoption orders. 1-2 business-hour accelerated service available at ‘substantially higher fees’ by calling 609-292-9292. A notarized translation attached to a vital record is charged as a second apostille.
How long does a New Jersey apostille take?
12-20 business days (standard) from receipt and entry into the system Expedited option: $40 per document, 8.5 business hours from receipt; delivered in person or via UPS/FedEx to 33 West State Street. 1-2 hour accelerated service by phone arrangement..
Can I get an apostille in person in New Jersey?
Yes. In-person delivery accepted 8:30am-2:00pm; wait up to 2.5 hours; availability depends on workload, so call 609-292-9292 first. Expedited requests must be delivered in person or by UPS/FedEx (no USPS).
Does New Jersey require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Notary Public Unit (Apostille/Certification) provided the notary is commissioned in New Jersey and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a New Jersey resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by New Jersey. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
