DIA will apostille a New Zealand birth certificate of any age. But the overseas authority can set its own limit, and many want a certificate issued within the last 3 or 6 months. In this case the client's certificate was 8 months old and his visa needed one under 6 months. We spotted it before lodging, he ordered a new one, and the application started with the right document. A new certificate costs NZ$35 from BDM.
About this case. This is an NZ Document Assist case. The client is called Simon here to protect his identity, and the visa country is not named.
What happened
Simon was applying overseas for a temporary residence visa. He sent us the documents that needed an apostille, including his New Zealand birth certificate. It had been issued more than eight months earlier.
The certificate itself was valid, and DIA would have apostilled it. But visa offices often want recent certificates, so before lodging anything we asked Simon to check with the receiving authority whether it would accept a certificate that age.
The answer: the birth certificate could not be more than six months old. Simon ordered a new certificate and the process started again with the right document, before any apostille fee was paid on the old one.
What it would have cost
Without the check, Simon would have paid for an apostille and courier on a certificate the visa office would refuse, then had to order a new certificate, apostille it again and wait for a second round of processing, with his visa application on hold the whole time.
How we check a certificate before the apostille
The dashed step only happens when the certificate is older than the receiving office allows.
- You send the documentsAnd the overseas office's instructions, if you have them.
- We check the issue dateAgainst the purpose: visa, marriage, citizenship.
- Confirm the office's ruleYou ask, or we tell you exactly what to ask.
- New certificate, if neededOrdered through BDM Online.
- Apostille and deliveryLodged with DIA once the right document is in hand.
What it costs, all in
Ordering a new certificate first adds NZ$50 (BDM's NZ$35 plus our NZ$15) to the apostille.
New certificate, apostilled, returned in NZ
Ordered through BDM Online
| Our BDM ordering | $15 |
| BDM certificate fee | $35 |
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $198 |
Existing certificate, apostilled
If the office accepts its age
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $148 |
Urgent add-on
Apostille or category A within 5 working days
| Our urgent service | $49 |
| DIA urgent fee | $120 |
| Total | +$169 |
All amounts NZ$ incl. GST. Government fees as published by DIA and BDM, checked 2 October 2026; they can change. Your quote shows every amount before any work starts. See all prices.
How recent does a birth certificate need to be?
| Who | Age rule |
|---|---|
| DIA (the apostille) | No limit. Any original BDM certificate with the Registrar-General's seal |
| Overseas visa or immigration office | Often a limit, commonly 3 or 6 months from the date the certificate was issued |
| Overseas marriage or citizenship registry | Sometimes a limit; check the instructions |
The age is counted from when the certificate was issued, not from the date of birth. A certificate ordered last year is “old” even if nothing on it has changed.
How to avoid the same problem
- Read the overseas checklist for any wording like “issued within” or “not older than”
- If there is no rule written down, ask the office before paying for an apostille
- If your certificate is close to the limit, order a new one: it costs NZ$35 and BDM says most arrive within 1 to 2 weeks
- Allow for the apostille time too: up to 15 working days, or 5 urgent, so the certificate is still within the limit when you submit
We order the new certificate
NZ Document Assist Limited is an approved BDM Online organisation, so we can order the new certificate directly and send it to DIA as soon as it arrives. See Apostille a NZ Birth Certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How old can a birth certificate be for an apostille in NZ?
DIA sets no age limit. It apostilles any original BDM certificate. The overseas authority may set its own limit, often 3 or 6 months.
Will DIA refuse an old birth certificate?
No. The risk is the overseas office refusing it after the apostille, which is why it is worth checking first.
How is the age of a birth certificate counted?
From the date the certificate was issued by BDM, not the date of birth.
How long does a new NZ birth certificate take?
BDM says most certificates arrive within 1 to 2 weeks. We order through BDM Online as soon as you confirm.
How much does a new certificate with an apostille cost?
Ordered from BDM, apostilled and returned in New Zealand: NZ$198 all in, including BDM's NZ$35 fee.
Should I always order a new certificate?
Only if the overseas office has an age rule your certificate does not meet. Otherwise the one you have is fine.
Sources
Official sources checked 2 October 2026:
NZ Document Assist Limited is an independent company, not a government agency. We are not a law firm, Notary Public or licensed immigration adviser and do not give legal or immigration advice.