New Hampshire Apostille Service — Complete Process Guide
Everything you need to know about getting a New Hampshire apostille — which documents qualify, exact state fees, the notarization requirement, how vital records differ from notarized documents, processing times, and the fastest way to get it done.
New Hampshire Apostille Services
Need your NH documents apostilled fast? Our dedicated New Hampshire apostille agency handles the entire process — from document review to submission and tracked return shipping worldwide. Same-day rush available. Trusted by American expats, Gold Visa applicants, and international students in 50+ countries.
What Is an Apostille and When Do You Need One?
An apostille is a standardized international authentication certificate issued by a country’s competent authority — in New Hampshire’s case, the Secretary of State. It certifies the authenticity of a public document for use in any of the 120+ countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention. The receiving country’s authorities accept the apostille as proof that the document is genuine, without needing to independently verify it through embassies or consulates.
You may need a New Hampshire apostille for situations including:
- Applying for dual citizenship or foreign residency (including Golden Visa programs)
- Getting married abroad — foreign authorities require a certified single status affidavit or birth certificate
- International adoption proceedings
- Enrolling in a foreign university or professional certification program
- Employment-based work permits and professional licensing abroad
- International estate administration — death certificates, inheritance documents
- Foreign real estate transactions involving a U.S. power of attorney
- Business incorporation or commercial agreements in foreign countries
- Immigration proceedings that require authenticated U.S. vital records
Before starting the apostille process, confirm that your destination country is a Hague Convention member. If it is not, your document needs a certification rather than an apostille — the NH Secretary of State handles both, at the same $10 fee. Non-Hague countries may also require additional legalization through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country’s embassy or consulate.
Who Issues NH Apostilles — and Who Does Not
The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office issues all apostilles and certifications for public documents in New Hampshire. The office is at Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301. Phone: (603) 271-3242. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:15 PM. No other person or office in New Hampshire has authority to issue an apostille. Apostille service providers like New Hampshire Apostille Services prepare and submit your documents on your behalf — they do not issue the apostille themselves.
The NH Secretary of State authenticates signatures appearing on documents. The office can only apostille documents that carry a qualifying signature — a New Hampshire notary public, a Justice of the Peace, or certain official state/town/county signatories. Documents signed by town or city clerks, state registrars, or county court officials cannot be apostilled unless those signatures are themselves notarized.
Documents We Apostille in New Hampshire
Birth Certificate
Vital RecordMust be an original certified copy issued by the NH Division of Vital Records Administration or your town/city clerk. Photocopies cannot be apostilled — it is illegal to photocopy a NH vital record. Request a fresh certified copy directly from the issuing office before submitting for apostille.
Marriage Certificate
Vital RecordCertified copy from the NH Division of Vital Records or the town/city clerk where the marriage was recorded. Commonly needed for spouse visa applications, name changes abroad, international property purchases, and benefit claims in foreign countries.
Death Certificate
Vital RecordCertified copy from NH Vital Records or town/city clerk. Required for international estate settlements, insurance claims abroad, pension transfers, and inheritance proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
Divorce Decree
Court RecordCertified copy from the NH Superior Court or Family Division court that issued the decree. Required to demonstrate single status abroad, for remarriage in a foreign country, or for immigration proceedings. Must be a certified copy — not a simple photocopy.
Power of Attorney
Notarized DocumentMust be notarized by a New Hampshire notary public or Justice of the Peace with original signature and official seal before apostille submission. Commonly used for managing property or financial affairs in Arab countries, European real estate, and international business while residing in NH or MA.
Single Status Affidavit
Notarized DocumentA sworn statement confirming the signer has never been married or is legally free to remarry. Must be notarized by an NH notary before apostille. Required by many countries — including Morocco, Lebanon, and other Arab and European nations — before permitting a foreign national to marry a citizen.
College Diploma / Transcript
Notarized DocumentMust be issued by the school registrar and notarized before apostille submission. The registrar’s signature alone is not sufficient — it must be notarized with an NH notary’s seal. Required for international employment, graduate school abroad, and professional licensing in foreign countries.
FBI Background Check
Federal — Separate ProcessFBI Identity History Summary Checks are federal documents apostilled by the U.S. Department of State — not by the NH Secretary of State. We handle the complete federal apostille process including submission to the State Department. Common requirement for Golden Visa investment programs, foreign employment, and international residency applications.
The Notarization Requirement — What You Must Know First
This is the step that causes the most confusion and the most delays. The rule in New Hampshire is precise and there are no exceptions.
Vital records do not need additional notarization. A birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, or divorce decree issued directly by the NH Division of Vital Records Administration or a town/city clerk already carries the qualifying official signature and seal of the issuing authority. Submit it directly for apostille. Do not ask a notary to notarize a vital record — a notary cannot alter or add authentication to a vital record.
All other documents must be notarized by a New Hampshire notary before apostille. Powers of attorney, affidavits, diplomas, single-status letters, adoption documents, and any other non-vital-record document must have an original signature from a New Hampshire notary public or Justice of the Peace, with the official notary seal clearly affixed. The NH Secretary of State will reject submissions that carry:
- A Massachusetts notary seal on a document intended for NH apostille
- Any notary seal from a state other than New Hampshire
- An NH notary signature without the official seal
- A photocopied or scanned notary seal
- An expired NH notary commission
Documents notarized by a Massachusetts notary cannot be apostilled by the NH Secretary of State. The NH SOS only authenticates signatures from NH notaries and Justices of the Peace. If you live in southern NH near the MA border and used a Massachusetts notary, you need to have the document re-notarized by an NH-commissioned notary before submitting to Concord. New Hampshire Apostille Services coordinates NH notary services before apostille submission.
Step-by-Step Process
Determine what you have — vital record or notarized document
Vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates, divorce decrees) issued by NH authorities go directly to step 3. All other documents must be notarized by a New Hampshire notary first — go to step 2.
Get the document notarized by a New Hampshire notary
The notary must hold an active New Hampshire commission. The signature and official notary seal must be original — no photocopies. New Hampshire Apostille Services coordinates NH notary appointments for clients who need notarization before apostille, including residents of Nashua, Manchester, Salem, and the Merrimack Valley border area.
Complete the NH Secretary of State apostille request form
Download the request form from sos.nh.gov. Complete all fields: document type, issuing authority, the country where the apostille will be used, your contact information, and return shipping details. The destination country determines whether the SOS issues an apostille (Hague member) or a certification (non-Hague member).
Prepare payment
The state fee is $10 per document, payable by cash or check made to “State of New Hampshire.” If submitting 10 or more documents for same-day in-person processing, add $25 expedited fee per 10 documents. Do not send credit card payments by mail.
Submit — in person or by mail
In person: Room 204, 107 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301. Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–4:15 PM. Large volumes may not be ready until the following business day.
By mail: Send your documents, completed request form, check, and a self-addressed prepaid return envelope (FedEx or USPS) to the same address. Use tracked shipping — do not send original documents untracked.
Receive your apostilled documents
The apostille certificate is attached to your document by staple. It is signed by a Deputy Secretary of State (facsimile signature) and carries the embossed gold foil Seal of the State of New Hampshire. It includes the name of the destination country. Return it to you by mail, or pick up in person if submitted in person.
Want Us to Handle the Entire Process?
New Hampshire Apostille Services manages everything — document review, NH notarization if needed, submission, and tracked worldwide return.
Fees and Processing Times
| Service | State Fee | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard apostille (by mail) | $10/document | 5–10 business days | Plus return shipping time. Use tracked prepaid return envelope. |
| Standard apostille (in person) | $10/document | Same day or next business day | Large volumes may roll to next day. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:15 PM. |
| Expedited in-person (10+ docs) | $10/doc + $25 per 10 | Same day — immediate | $25 expedited fee for every 10 documents requiring immediate service. |
| Non-Hague certification | $10/document | Same as apostille | For countries not in the Hague Convention. Specify destination country on form. |
| Federal document (FBI report) | U.S. State Dept. fee | 2–8 weeks standard | Processed by U.S. Department of State, not NH SOS. Separate process entirely. |
The $10 state fee covers the Secretary of State’s authentication only. If you use a service provider like New Hampshire Apostille Services, their service fee covers preparation, review, submission, and return shipping — this is separate from and in addition to the $10 state fee. For tight international deadlines, using a professional service significantly reduces the risk of rejection due to form errors or document deficiencies.
Apostille vs. Certification — Hague vs. Non-Hague Countries
The type of authentication your document needs depends entirely on the destination country.
- Apostille — for countries that are members of the Hague Convention of 1961. Over 120 countries accept apostilles, including most of Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, and many others. The apostille is a standardized certificate that is immediately recognizable to authorities in member countries.
- Certification — for countries that are not Hague Convention members. The NH Secretary of State issues a certification that authenticates the document for use in these countries. However, non-Hague countries may also require additional legalization steps — including authentication through the U.S. Department of State and legalization through the destination country’s embassy or consulate in Washington, D.C.
When you submit your apostille request to the NH Secretary of State, you specify the destination country on the request form. The office issues the appropriate authentication type automatically. If you are unsure whether your destination country is a Hague member, check the current member list on the Hague Conference website or contact New Hampshire Apostille Services — we confirm destination requirements before processing.
NH vs. MA Apostille — Which State Handles Your Document?
This is the most common question from clients living near the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border — in towns like Salem, Nashua, Londonderry, Pelham, and Hudson — and from Massachusetts residents with documents issued in New Hampshire.
The rule is straightforward: a document is apostilled by the state that issued it, not the state where you live.
If you have a mix of NH and MA documents that both need apostille — for example, an NH birth certificate and a MA-notarized power of attorney — each must go to its respective state authority. New Hampshire Apostille Services handles NH documents. For MA apostilles, see our Massachusetts apostille service.
Federal Documents — FBI Reports and U.S. Passports
Federal documents are not apostilled by any state secretary of state — they are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. This applies to FBI Identity History Summary Checks (background checks), U.S. passports, and any other federally-issued document. The process is separate from the NH state apostille process and typically takes longer.
FBI background check apostilles are particularly common for:
- Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Malta Golden Visa / NHR residency programs
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar employment and residency permits
- Canadian permanent residency applications
- International teaching and professional licensing credentials
New Hampshire Apostille Services handles the complete federal apostille process — including obtaining the FBI Identity History Summary Check and submitting it to the U.S. Department of State — as part of a single engagement. Contact us at (978) 424-4629 or visit newhampshireapostilleservices.com to start the federal apostille process.
Thanks for getting everything; my Apostille service is so quick! My deadline for submitting everything for a Visa program in Germany was fast approaching. I was a nervous wreck with all other apostille websites giving me a runaround with processing times and complicated terms. Your website and staff gave me straightforward instructions and explained the process — and real live people on the other end. Special thanks to Sarah, who responded to all my emails on time.
New Hampshire Locations We Serve
New Hampshire Apostille Services accepts documents by mail from clients throughout New Hampshire and from Merrimack Valley MA residents with NH-issued documents. Same-day rush available for documents brought in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Content reviewed by James Lumas, Lead Editor. Sources: NH Secretary of State — Apostilles and Certificates (sos.nh.gov); NH RSA 5-C:98; NH apostille request form and requirements. State fee confirmed $10/document as of April 2026. For New Hampshire apostille service, visit newhampshireapostilleservices.com. For Massachusetts apostille, see our Massachusetts apostille service page. Last updated April 26, 2026.
