This article walks you through the full process of getting an Apostille for your Relay transcript, diploma, or enrollment verification letter — from getting it notarized through final certification.

Table of Contents

• Process Overview
• Step 1: Collect Your Documentation
• Step 2: Certify Your Documentation
• Step 3: Obtain Your Apostille
• Step 4: Have It Authenticated, If Needed

Process Overview

An Apostille certifies an official document for use in a foreign country, by confirming the signature and position of the official who issued it. You'll only need one if the organization receiving your documents specifically requires it.

To get an Apostille, you’ll need to work with a few different offices and vendors. First, Relay notarizes your document. Next, the County Clerk certifies that notarization. Then, the New York Department of State affixes the actual Apostille. If your destination country requires it, you'll finish with one more round of authentication from the U.S. Department of State, which charges its own per-document fee.

The full process can take 6+ weeks, and longer if you're starting between May and October. Be prepared to pay a per-document fee at each step. 

Step 1: Collect Your Documentation

Ordering Your Notarized Documents

The Registrar's Office can notarize your transcript, diploma, and/or enrollment verification letter. Relay charges $50 per document to notarize your transcript, diploma, or enrollment verification letter. This is separate from or in addition to any fee to order the document itself, and separate from the fees charged later by the County Clerk and the New York Department of State.

Official Transcript

1. Submit a notarized transcript order here [LINK NEEDED].
2. Under "Who are you sending your transcript to?" select “Myself”

Diploma

1. Order through Relay's diploma vendor, Michael Sutter here [LINK NEEDED].
2. Search for your diploma
   1. If you graduated on or after June 2023, search for your diploma using your Relay Student ID and last name. 
   2. If you graduated before June 2023, you'll need to request a secure ID first.
3. Once you've found your diploma or received your secure ID, select "notary service" in the lower right corner of the order page 

Enrollment Verification Letter

1. Complete the request form here [LINK NEEDED].
2. In the "additional details" section, note that the document is needed for an Apostille.
3. You'll be sent a bill from Relay's Graduate Billing Services. Once you've paid in full, the Registrar's Office will release the document to you by mail.

Receiving Your Documents

When prompted, provide the email or mailing address you’d like your notarized documents to be sent to.

For some students: if the organization requesting your documents has given you their own instructions for securing an Apostille, follow those instead. Otherwise, you may continue with Step 2 below. 

Step 2: Certify Your Documentation

Once you have your notarized document, you'll need to get the notary's signature certified by the County Clerk of the county where the notary is qualified. All of Relay's notarized documents are qualified in New York State, via Queens County or New York County — we don't have notaries available at any other Relay campus. 

To certify your documents:

1. Obtain a money order to cover the County Clerk’s office per-document fee. As of February 2026, it's $3.00 per document (call to confirm this price).
2. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your mailed documents so they can be returned to you. It's strongly recommended that you use USPS Certified Mail.
3. Mail your documents to the Notary Department at the County Clerk’s office. 

You’re welcome to include a cover letter, though it’s not required. 

Step 3: Obtain Your Apostille

After the County Clerk has certified your document, you'll need to take it to the New York Department of State, which will affix the actual Apostille. The Department of State charges a per-document fee. [LINK NEEDED: more information about the NY Department of State's office]

Walk-In

Walk-in Apostille service is available in New York State at the following customer service locations: New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Utica. [LINK NEEDED: "Walk-In Service" section]

Mail-In

If you're outside New York State, or prefer not to go in person, you can mail your certified documents instead. Which address you use depends on how you're sending them:

For some students: if the country where you'll be working or studying accepts an Apostille on its own, your document is now certified for use. Only continue to Step 4 if your destination country requires further authentication beyond the Apostille.

Step 4: Have It Authenticated, If Needed

Some foreign countries require your document to be authenticated in addition to receiving an Apostille.

 If yours does, take your document to the United States Department of State's Authentications Office. They'll authenticate it by issuing a certificate under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State, and they’ll charge you a per-document fee.