Apostille in New Jersey
Which documents this office will accept
- Wet ink
The document must carry an original, hand-signed signature (and seal where one applies).
An electronically notarized document — what a remote online notarization produces — cannot satisfy that, so a RON notarization cannot feed this paper chain.
- From the source
Notarized documents must bear the NJ notary's original (inked) signature and the signer's original (inked) signature; document signed by a NJ public official must match the official listing (see ApostilleListings.pdf). Non-English documents: notarized English translation recommended. No county clerk pre-certification required
By document type
| Document type | What this office requires |
|---|---|
| vital records | certified copy from NJ Department of Health (1923–present) or NJ State Archives (pre-1923); out-of-state vital records not processed |
Certifications you may need first
No additional certification step is required before the apostille.
The request form
- Form
No paper form: the request is made through the online portal.
- Where to get it
- From the source
Online portal order (no separate paper cover sheet)
Requesting online
- Online route
Online submission is MANDATORY — this office no longer accepts a paper request.
- From the source
True online ordering portal (online ordering is the intake method); documents then mailed or delivered
Where to go in person
Trenton
33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608- Access
Open for walk-in service.
No appointment is needed.
- Hours
8:30 am–2:00 pm
- Same-day service
Available.
- From the source
Walk-in or courier drop-off for expedited service; no appointment required; same-day (approx. 2.5 hours) subject to operational capacity (call 609-292-9292 to confirm)
What it costs
| Fee | Applies to | Details |
|---|---|---|
| $25.00 USD per document | non-adoption (standard service) | Surcharge: plus portal service fee: $2.50 (credit card) or $1.00 (e-check) Standard: $25.00 per document (statutory) |
| $5.00 USD per document | adoption-related (standard service) | Adoption documents: no portal service fee |
Faster service
- Online
$40.00 USD per document
Turnaround: Expedited: 8.5 business hours from receipt/entry; walk-in: results in up to 2.5 hours, subject to workload
Non-adoption documents; plus portal service fee $2.50 (credit card) or $1.00 (e-check)
- Online
$20.00 USD per document
Turnaround: Expedited: 8.5 business hours from receipt/entry; walk-in: results in up to 2.5 hours, subject to workload
Adoption-related documents; no portal service fee
How to pay
- Online
Card payment or e-check.
- From the source
Credit card or e-check (debit) via the online portal (online ordering is the intake method)
Where to send your documents
- Mailing address
- PO Box 452, Trenton, NJ 08646
- From the source
Standard service (after online order). The DORES apostille unit also lists PO Box 628, Trenton, NJ 08625-0628 on the program page
How long it takes
- By mail
Standard: 12–20 business days from receipt of document
- In person
Walk-in (expedited): results in up to 2.5 hours, subject to workload
- Expedited
Expedited: 8.5 business hours from receipt/entry
Checking status and verifying an apostille
- Verify an issued apostille
No public verification register is published for this office. That is not the same as an apostille being unverifiable — ask the office how it confirms one.
- Check a request's status
No status-tracking page is published for this office.
Remote online notarization
- Status
Remote online notarization is permitted here.
- Legal basis
N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10 (P.L.2021, c.179), effective October 20, 2021 (remainder of act eff. 90th day after July 22, 2021 enactment; education/exam provisions eff. July 2022)
- In force since
October 20, 2021
- What the notary must register
Notification required. Before the initial remote notarial act, the notary must notify the State Treasurer electronically at www.nj.gov/njbgs and identify the technologies to be used (N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10(m)). Commission application fee $25 (appointment/renewal)
- How the signer is identified
Statute options (N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10): personal knowledge; oath/affirmation of a credible witness (may appear by communication technology); or identity proofing of the remotely located individual. Per the official NJ Notary Public Manual (Ch. 8): visually verify a proof-of-identity document (credential analysis; passport, driver's license, or government non-driver ID — current or expired < 3 years) PLUS one of: (a) dynamic knowledge-based authentication (KBA), (b) biometric verification (NIST-compliant), or (c) digital public key certificate
- Fee caps
Remote act: $2.50 USD
Standard notarial act: $2.50 USD
- From the source
Max RON fee: same schedule as standard acts — no separate RON fee or cap (fees now fixed by State Treasurer regulation under P.L.2021, c.179). Max standard fee per official Notary Public Manual (Ch. 11): "For administering oaths, taking affidavits, taking proofs of a deed, and taking acknowledgements, $2.50 per act." Real estate transfer (grantors), all services in one transaction: $15.00. Real estate financing (mortgagors), all services in one transaction: $25.00. P.L.2021, c.179 moved fee-setting from N.J.S. 22A:4-14 to State Treasurer regulation. RON session audio-video recording required. NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), not a Secretary of State, administers notaries
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