State guide
Federal Apostille Services in Illinois
How Illinois residents get federal documents apostilled — and how that differs from Illinois state documents handled by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille counter in Illinois — or anywhere outside Washington, D.C. Federal documents from Illinois residents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. Illinois state documents go to the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Illinois are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by the Illinois Secretary of State.
- Illinois state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) go to the Illinois Secretary of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles.
- 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.
- State apostille office
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Located in
- Springfield
- Federal court districts
- 3
- Our office
- Chicago
Federal or Illinois document?
| Document | Apostille from |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State |
| Illinois State Police check | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Naturalization / citizenship certificate | U.S. Department of State |
| Illinois birth, death or marriage certificate | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Document notarized in Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Federal court record | U.S. Department of State |
| Illinois state court record | Illinois Secretary of State |
Federal courts in Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
City guides: Chicago
How we serve Illinois
We have a processing office in Illinois: Chicago. It handles orders by phone and online and isn’t open to the public, so documents come to us by mail — the fastest route to Washington. We cover Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Springfield and every other part of Illinois.
Pricing is flat: $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.
Official sources: Illinois Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · NASS — State Apostille Offices.
Documents for Illinois residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Illinois:
Where are Illinois state documents apostilled?
Illinois-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Illinois — are apostilled by the Illinois Secretary of State, 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 Illinois authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Illinois Secretary of State |
|---|
Source: Illinois Secretary of State — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Check current fees, hours and addresses on the official page before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from Illinois?
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 from Illinois?
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).
Illinois — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Illinois?
No. Every U.S. federal document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Illinois Secretary of State handles only Illinois state documents.
Who issues apostilles for Illinois state documents?
The Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield.
Which federal courts are in Illinois?
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Do I need to visit an office in Illinois?
No. We work with Illinois clients by mail and handle the Washington submission for you.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees and U.S. shipping 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.