Serving Albany, NY by mail
Federal Apostille Services in Albany, NY
How Albany residents get federal documents apostilled — and where New York state documents go instead.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no apostille counter for federal documents in Albany — only one office in the country issues them, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that for Albany clients by mail. New York state documents go to the New York Department of State in Albany.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Albany are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — there is no local federal apostille office.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- County
- Albany County
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- State apostille office
- New York Department of State
- Our nearest office
- New York
How it works from Albany
We don’t have an office in Albany — and you don’t need one. Albany clients send documents by mail, and our nearest office is New York, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Order online
Tell us the document and destination. No payment until we confirm route and price.
Mail us the document
Ship it by USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL. We review it against authentication requirements before submission.
We process in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, and handle embassy legalization for non-Hague countries.
You receive it
Returned by tracked courier.
Albany and New York documents
Albany is in Albany County, within the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Federal court records from there are authenticated federally; New York birth, marriage and state-court records, and anything notarized in New York, go to the New York Department of State. In New York, a notarized document must first be certified by the county clerk in the county where the notary is registered, before the New York Department of State will act on it. See our New York guide for the full breakdown.
Official sources: New York Department of State — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Documents for Albany residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Albany:
Where are New York state documents apostilled?
New York-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in New York — are apostilled by the New York Department of State, Apostille and Authentication Unit, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the New York authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | New York Department of State, Apostille and Authentication Unit |
|---|---|
| In person | 1 Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231 Same-day walk-in at Albany, New York City (123 William St), Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica offices, up to 10 documents |
| Mailing address | PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001 |
| Phone | (518) 474-4429 |
| Hours | Albany Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:15 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $10 |
Source: New York Department of State — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Fees, hours and appointment rules change — confirm with the office before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from Albany?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost in Albany?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
Albany — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Albany?
No. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for Albany clients by mail.
Do you have an office in Albany?
No — Albany is served by mail. Our nearest office is New York, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Where are New York state documents apostilled?
By the New York Department of State in Albany. Notarized documents need county clerk certification first.
Which federal court covers Albany?
Albany is in Albany County, within the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.