District of Columbia
Federal Apostille in Washington, DC
Federal document authentication for Washington and the District of Columbia — processed through the U.S. Department of State. Order online or by mail; all government fees included.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
Washington, D.C. is the one place in the country that issues federal apostilles — every U.S. federal document authenticates here at the Department of State, Office of Authentications. Our D.C. headquarters handles that submission directly. It’s our processing office and isn’t open to the public — clients anywhere in the U.S. order online or by phone and send documents by mail. For in-person FBI background checks or document drop-off, book at our West Palm Beach or Miami office.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Washington 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.
- Office
- 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, F-510, Washington, DC 20036
- Office type
- Headquarters & processing — not open to the public
- Authenticated at
- U.S. Dept. of State, Washington, D.C.
- Federal court district
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Turnaround
- 10–12 business days + shipping
Washington, D.C. is where federal apostilles actually happen. Every U.S. federal document — from any agency, issued to a resident of any state — is authenticated at the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications here in D.C. Our D.C. headquarters is steps from it, and it is the processing hub for every order, from all nineteen offices.
Federal documents from Washington authenticate in Washington — not locally
An apostille certifies that the seal and signature on a document are genuine. For a federal document — one issued by a federal agency or federal court — the only office in the country that can do that is the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. A state Secretary of State cannot authenticate it, and there is no local federal-apostille counter anywhere, Washington included.
That is why Washington residents route federal documents through us: Washington sits in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia — home to the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse — so many local federal records originate here, but the apostille that makes them usable abroad still happens in D.C. We bridge that gap.
U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, DC
The Office of Authentications issues every federal apostille and authentication certificate. Routine requests go in by mail or early-morning drop-off; same-day service is reserved for life-or-death emergencies. Here is what the State Department publishes:
| Routine drop-off | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment. Processed within 7 business days. |
|---|---|
| By mail | 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206 Processed within 5 weeks of receipt. |
| Emergency (same day) | By appointment, Mon–Thu, 10:00 AM–2:30 PM, only for travel within 2 weeks because an immediate family member has a life-or-death emergency, with proof. |
| Form | Form DS-4194, one per request |
| Government fee | $20 per document |
Source: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services. Full walkthrough: U.S. Department of State apostille guide.
FBI background check apostille in DC: the FBI report is a federal document, so its apostille also comes from this office. We take FBI fingerprints in person only at our West Palm Beach and Miami offices; if you already have your FBI Identity History Summary, send it to us for the FBI background check apostille.
How it works from Washington
Order online
Start your order and tell us the document and destination country. No payment up front — we confirm the exact price and route first.
Mail us the document
Send your original federal document to our processing office. We accept USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL, and review it before anything is submitted.
We process in Washington, D.C.
Our team hand-delivers your document to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — no mail queue, no lost packages.
You receive it
We return the apostilled document by tracked courier. Non-Hague countries include embassy legalization.
Federal documents vs. D.C. documents
Washington is the one city with two apostille offices. Federal documents — FBI reports, naturalization certificates, IRS and SSA letters, federal court records — are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. That is the submission we handle.
District of Columbia documents — D.C. birth, death and marriage certificates, D.C. Superior Court records, and documents notarized by a D.C. notary — are apostilled by the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia instead — you request that directly; we don’t provide it. If a D.C. document is going to a non-Hague country, get it authenticated there first and we handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps. See apostille in Washington, D.C.. Not sure which you have? Call us before you send anything.
Where your document is going decides the route
Hague Convention countries accept the apostille on its own. Non-Hague countries need the same Department of State authentication followed by embassy or consulate legalization — we handle both.
| Destination | What you get | Extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Hague country | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State | None |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication certificate | Embassy legalization |
Documents in Washington, DC
The exact route for each document from Washington, DC:
Where are Washington, D.C. state documents apostilled?
Washington, D.C.-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Washington, D.C. — are apostilled by the D.C. Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications, 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 Washington, D.C. authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | D.C. Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications |
|---|---|
| In person | 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 8100, Washington, DC 20002 No appointment required |
| Mailing address | 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 8100, Washington, DC 20002 |
| Phone | (202) 727-3117 |
| Hours | Walk-in Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $15 |
| Processing time (published) | Mail within 5 business days; walk-in same day |
Source: Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia — 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 Washington?
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 Washington?
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).
Washington federal apostille — FAQ
Is there an apostille office in Washington?
A federal apostille can only be issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — no state or city office can authenticate a federal document. Our Washington office coordinates that submission by phone and online. It isn’t open to the public, so you order online or by phone and send the document by mail.
How long does a federal apostille take for Washington residents?
Federal apostille processing runs about 10–12 business days once your document reaches us. Non-Hague destinations add embassy legalization; we confirm the full timeline before you order.
What does it cost?
Federal apostille is $299 per document, with government authentication fees and U.S. shipping included. We confirm your exact price before any payment.
Which documents do you handle for Washington?
FBI background-check reports, DD-214 and military records, IRS documents, Social Security letters, certificates of naturalization and citizenship, federal court documents, and other federal-agency records — plus the full authentication chain for Florida documents going to non-Hague countries.
Official sources: Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
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.