How do I get an apostille in New Mexico?

Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the New Mexico Secretary of State with the fee and destination country, by mail or in person in Santa Fe.

Does New Mexico issue authentications for non-Hague countries?

Yes. For countries outside the Hague Convention, New Mexico issues an authentication certificate that may then need consular legalization.

West · NM

Land of Enchantment

How to get an apostille in New Mexico

In New Mexico, apostilles are issued by the New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a New Mexico apostille looks like.

Capital: Santa Fe
Governor (2026): Michelle Lujan Grisham
State flower: Yucca Flower
State bird: Greater Roadrunner

Apostille signed by New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard New Mexico process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in New Mexico

01
Confirm the document is New Mexico-issued or notarized by a New Mexico notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the New Mexico Secretary of State authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For vital records, obtain a certified copy from the New Mexico Department of Health (Vital Records).
04
Complete the apostille/authentication request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive your apostille or certificate of authentication.

New Mexico apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications
State fee	$3 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Santa Fe.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the New Mexico Secretary of State, Apostilles/Authentications, in Santa Fe (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications — https://www.sos.nm.gov/notary-and-apostille/apostille-and-authentication/Draft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in New Mexico

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from the state vital-records office)
Divorce decrees and court orders (certified by the clerk of court)
Powers of attorney and affidavits (signed before a notary)
Single-status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
Diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates
Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, good-standing certificates, board resolutions
Commercial and export documents

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by New Mexico.

Specimen

What a New Mexico apostille looks like

A New Mexico apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for New Mexico. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

New Mexico apostille FAQ

How do I get an apostille in New Mexico?: Have your document notarized or certified, then submit it to the New Mexico Secretary of State with the fee and destination country, by mail or in person in Santa Fe.
Does New Mexico issue authentications for non-Hague countries?: Yes. For countries outside the Hague Convention, New Mexico issues an authentication certificate that may then need consular legalization.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the New Mexico apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the New Mexico Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

Need it done for you?

Rather not deal with the New Mexico paperwork yourself?

This guide is free to use. If you’d like a service to prepare, notarize where needed, and submit your documents for you — including federal documents and translations — tell us what you need and we’ll point you to the right help.