If you were born in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island, and ordered a long form birth certificate specificatlly for foreign use, you will get a birth certificate with a Letter of Exemplification. 

A Letter of exemplification is a separate page attached to a New York City long form birth certificate. It is hand-signed by a Deputy City Registrar and attests that the attached birth certificate is a true copy of the actual record.

Exemplification letters can only be attached to the NYC long form birth certificates at the time a certified copy is issued. You cannot request a Letter of Exemplification separately. However, a long form birth certificate is acceptable for an apostille with or without a Letter of Exemplification, provided it is original and has a raised seal.

Where do I get a certified copy of the long form birth certificate with a Letter of exemplification?

If you were born within the five boroughs of New York City, you first option is to apply in person or mail the request to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY, 10013.

When ordering, specify that you need the birth certificate for foreign use, then you will get a Letter of exemplification.

You will not be able to get a long form birth certificate over the counter. It will be mailed to you within two-three weeks. Short form birth certificates can be obtained over the counter.

Your second option is to use a private online service called VitalCheck that is the only agent authorized by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to assist you with the retrieval of your birth certificate. When ordering, you must specify that the purpose of your request is APOSTILLE/AUTHENTICATION. Then, most likely, you will get your birth certificate woth a Letter of Exemplification. VitalCheck works OK, they also mail documents to foreign countries.

Is it true that an Exemplification letter is required in order to get a long form birth certificate legalized by an apostille or by a foreign embassy?

New! Effective Febrruary 11, 2025 birth certificates (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) must be accompanied by a Letter of Exemplification.

New! Effective February 11, 2025 short form birth certificates are not accepted for apostilles.