Frequently Asked Questions

A federal apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State for documents issued by a federal agency, such as FBI background checks, USPTO, FDA, USDA, and SSA/VA letters. These cannot be apostilled at the state level.

Federal apostilles are handled by mail-in or secure digital upload. Mail your original to our federal processing office in Washington, D.C., or upload a scan through our Document Review Portal or booking flow, then mail us the original once confirmed.

FBI background checks, USPTO trademark and patent documents, FDA certificates, USDA documents, SSA and VA letters, federal court records, and documents signed by federal officials.

Seven to ten business days once we have a usable document. The U.S. Department of State does not process federal apostilles faster for any reason, even emergencies, so there is no rush or same-day tier. Our agents in Washington, D.C. hand-deliver every document, which gets you the fastest turnaround available.

Federal apostilles are issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We coordinate the submission and mail your apostilled original back to you.

A state apostille is issued by the Secretary of State where your document originated. You typically need one for state-issued documents being used in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

The apostille must come from the Secretary of State of the state that issued your document, not the state where you live. We coordinate directly with that state's office on your behalf, wherever it is.

Yes. Documents you wrote or signed yourself, like powers of attorney, affidavits, and corporate resolutions, must be notarized by a notary in the issuing state before they can be apostilled. Vital records and other government-issued documents don't need notarization.

We have runners in California, New York, Arizona, Utah, and Washington, D.C. In every other state, documents are handled by mail-in service to our processing office.

Standard is 7 or more business days at $119 per document. Rush is under 7 business days for $219. Same-day is available in select states for $269, if your document is submitted before 10am local time. Vital records (birth, marriage and death certificates and other government-issued records) from outside California are $159, $259 and $309.

State apostilles typically take 7 or more business days on our standard tier, with rush and same-day options available for an additional fee. Federal apostilles take seven to ten business days and come in one speed only. Actual timing also depends on the receiving government office's current volume.

Processing begins once we've received payment and your original document (for mail-in and drop-off orders) or your uploaded files (for federal digital upload orders). We'll confirm receipt and send you a status update by email.

Yes. You'll receive email status updates as your order moves from review to submission, completion, and return shipping.

The most common causes are missing or unclear documents, notarization that hasn't been completed, and processing delays at the receiving government office, which are outside our control.

No. The U.S. Department of State has made it clear it does not process federal apostilles faster than seven to ten business days for any reason, even emergencies. Our agents in Washington, D.C. hand-deliver every document, which is the fastest route there is. Same-day and rush exist for state apostilles only. If your deadline is tight on a federal document, start as early as you can.

We ship your completed documents back: Standard Shipping ($22, up to 3 business days) or Overnight ($150, next business day, arriving any time between 8am and 10pm). You can also supply your own prepaid return label at no charge, in which case we accept FedEx labels only. Shipments we arrange are tracked and insured.

It depends on the document and delivery method. Mail-in and drop-off orders require your original document; federal digital upload orders only require a clear scan or photo up front, and we return your apostilled original by mail afterward.

Yes, every return shipment is tracked and insured.

Please book first, then follow the mailing instructions at the end of the booking. They give you the exact address to use and the order number to send with your documents, which is what your envelope gets matched to on arrival. Please do not mail anything, or turn up at an office, before you have booked. See <a href="/locations/">our offices</a> for the full list.

Yes. FBI identity history summary checks are apostilled through the U.S. Department of State as a federal apostille. We handle the submission and return your apostilled report by mail.

Upload a clear scan through our Document Review Portal or booking flow, or mail us the original. We'll confirm what's required and provide a firm price before you pay.

Standard processing is 7 or more business days; rush service is available for an additional fee.

Yes, the U.S. Department of State requires the original, signed FBI Identity History Summary. We'll confirm exactly what's needed when you book.

A certified translation includes a signed statement of accuracy from a qualified translator and is accepted for most official, academic, and business purposes. A sworn translation is notarized and sworn before a notary public, and is required by some courts, agencies, and countries that demand a higher level of authentication.

Yes. Translation can be added during booking, priced per page, with optional translator's notarization or CA notarization add-ons. Note that translating a vital record for apostille purposes generally requires the translation itself to be notarized.

Certified translation is $85 per page; sworn translation is $185 per page. Optional add-ons include translator's notarization (+$25) and CA notarization (+$15).

If your document will be used in a country that doesn't read English, most receiving institutions want a certified or sworn translation alongside the apostilled original.

Over 120 countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, including most of Europe, much of Latin America, and many countries in Asia and the Pacific. If your destination is a member, an apostille is all you need.

Your document will need the full authentication chain instead of an apostille: state or federal certification, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, then legalization by that country's embassy or consulate. We coordinate the entire process for you.

More than 120 countries participate, including Canada, the United Kingdom, most of the European Union, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Call or email us to confirm your specific destination.

As long as your destination country is a Hague Convention member and your document was properly apostilled by the correct state or federal office, it will be accepted without further legalization.