US state guide
New Jersey birth certificates and apostilles for European citizenship
Almost every citizenship-by-descent application starts with certified New Jersey records. Here is how to order the right version, get the apostille and avoid the mistakes that cause rejections.
Order a certified long-form certificate
- OfficeNew Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
- Long formcertified copy (raised seal on safety paper; a 'certification' is plain-paper and not valid for legal purposes)
- How to orderonline, mail, in person
- Fee per birth certificate$25
Order birth, marriage and death records for every generation in your chain, not just your own.
Get the apostille
- Issued byNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (Notary Unit)
- Fee per document$25
- How to applyonline, mail, in person
- Watch outMark the vital records application as needing an apostille so the certified copy bears the original signature of the State Registrar or Assistant/Deputy State Registrar; records before 1923 come from the State Archives
Prepare it for your country
Greece
Certified long-form records, each with an apostille, then an official Greek translation.
Translate only after the apostille is attached, by a certified translator or the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs translation service.
Greek citizenship guide →Ireland
Original civil (state-issued) certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent.
US documents are in English, so no translation is needed. Check the current Foreign Births Register document guide before ordering apostilles.
Irish citizenship guide →Poland
Certified long-form records with apostilles, translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
Polish authorities require translations by a Polish sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły), done after the apostille.
Polish citizenship guide →Fees and procedures come from official New Jersey websites and change often. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Consulates that serve New Jersey
FAQ
How do I get a long-form birth certificate in New Jersey?
Order a certified copy from New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (online, mail, in person). Note: certified copy (raised seal on safety paper; a 'certification' is plain-paper and not valid for legal purposes). Ask for the full version that lists both parents, because short-form or abstract copies are usually rejected for citizenship applications.
How do I get an apostille in New Jersey?
Apostilles for New Jersey documents are issued by New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (Notary Unit), currently $25 per document. Mark the vital records application as needing an apostille so the certified copy bears the original signature of the State Registrar or Assistant/Deputy State Registrar; records before 1923 come from the State Archives Check the official page for current fees and processing times.
Do I translate before or after the apostille?
After. The apostille certifies the signature on the original document, so the translation must cover the document and the apostille together.
Which countries' citizenship can these New Jersey documents be used for?
The same apostilled New Jersey records are the starting point for Greek, Irish and Polish citizenship by descent, among others. Each country adds its own translation and registration rules.
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