Processing time is the question people ask first, and the honest answer has two parts: how long we take, and how long the issuing authority takes. We control the first. The second depends on the Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and it moves with their workload.
Several authorities publish the submission date they are currently working through, which tells you far more than a general range. Where they do, we track it below and record when we last checked.
The figures below are the ranges we currently see in practice, counted in business days from the moment your document is in our hands and correct. They exclude weekends, federal and state holidays, and shipping time in either direction.
The single biggest cause of delay is not the state office. It is a document that has to be sent back because it was the wrong copy, unsigned, signed in advance, or missing a notarization. That is why the free document review exists, and why it is worth using before you pay for anything.
At a glance
Current processing times by authority
These are our own working estimates. We have not yet recorded a verification date against them. Treat anything time-critical as needing confirmation with the authority directly.
| Authority | Standard | Rush | Currently working through | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Federal (U.S. Dept. of State) U.S. Department of State All federal apostilles pass through one office, so this moves slower than most states. |
7 to 10 business days | Not offered | not published | — |
|
California Secretary of State California publishes the date it is currently working through, and in-person submissions are often same day. |
4 to 7 business days | Yes, same day available | not published | — |
|
New York Department of State Add a day or two for the county clerk stage on notarized documents. |
4 to 7 business days | Yes | not published | — |
|
Texas Secretary of State |
4 to 7 business days | Yes | not published | — |
|
Florida Department of State |
4 to 7 business days | Yes | not published | — |
|
Arizona Secretary of State |
4 to 7 business days | Yes | not published | — |
|
Utah Lieutenant Governor Universal certificate format since July 2026. |
4 to 7 business days | Yes | not published | — |
|
Washington, D.C. Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications D.C.-issued documents only. Federal documents go to the Department of State instead. |
5 to 10 business days | Limited | not published | — |
“Currently working through” is the submission date an authority says it is presently processing, where it publishes one. It is the most honest guide to a real wait: a stated turnaround of five days means little if the office is three weeks behind. Times exclude shipping in either direction and start once we hold a correct document. We serve all fifty states; the authorities above are the ones we track most closely.
Turnaround by service
| Service | Typical turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State apostille, standard | 7+ business days | Most vital records and notarized documents |
| State apostille, rush | Under 7 business days | Available in most states |
| State apostille, same day | Same business day | Select states, must be submitted before 10am local time |
| Federal apostille | 7 to 10 business days | U.S. Department of State, FBI checks and federal records |
| Embassy legalization | 2 to 6 weeks | Depends entirely on the destination country’s embassy |
| Certified translation | 2 to 5 business days | Runs in parallel with the apostille where possible |
| Document retrieval | 1 to 3 weeks | Depends on the issuing county or state office |
Business days exclude weekends and public holidays. Times start when we have a correct, usable document, not when you place the order.
What actually causes delays
- The wrong copy. Hospital birth certificates, photocopies, and uncertified prints are rejected by every state.
- Signing in advance. A document needing notarization must be signed in front of the notary, not before.
- Expired or mismatched ID. The name on the ID has to match the document, and the ID cannot be expired.
- Missing notarization. Private documents cannot be apostilled until a notary has witnessed the signature.
- Peak periods. State offices slow down around academic intake and major holidays.
- Embassy variability. For non-Hague countries, the final stage is outside anyone’s control but the embassy’s.
Planning backwards from a deadline
If you have a hard date, work backwards and add slack. A realistic plan for a state apostille going overseas is: two days to get the right document in hand, five to seven business days for processing, and three to five days for international shipping. That is roughly two to three weeks, not one.
For a federal apostille, or anything going to a non-Hague country, double it. Embassy stages routinely add several weeks and cannot be rushed with a fee.
If your deadline is tighter than that, call us before ordering. Rush and same-day options exist in some states, and we can tell you honestly whether your date is achievable rather than taking the order and hoping.
Apostille Processing Times: common questions
Does the clock start when I order or when you receive the document?
When we have a correct, usable document in hand. If you mail it in, add transit time. If you upload a federal document, processing can begin the same day.
Can you guarantee a date?
We can guarantee when we submit, but no service can guarantee when a government office issues. Anyone promising a firm date for a state or federal apostille is guessing. What we do instead is tell you honestly whether your deadline is realistic before you pay.
Is same-day really same day?
In the states where it is offered, yes, provided the document reaches us before 10am local time and is correct on arrival. It is not available for federal apostilles.
Does rush speed up the government or just you?
Both, where it is possible. Rush moves your document to the front of our queue and, in states that offer expedited handling, pays for the state’s faster tier. In states with no expedited option, rush only speeds up our side.
How long does shipping add?
Domestic return shipping runs one to three business days depending on the service you choose. International delivery varies widely. Overnight shipping is available if you need it sooner.
Ready to get started?
Get an exact price and a realistic timeline for your document before you commit.
Related: What you need for an apostille · Country requirements · Pricing · Free document review