State guide
Federal Apostille Services in Louisiana
How Louisiana residents get federal documents apostilled — and how that differs from Louisiana state documents handled by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille counter in Louisiana — or anywhere outside Washington, D.C. Federal documents from Louisiana residents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. Louisiana state documents go to the Louisiana Secretary of State in Baton Rouge.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Louisiana are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- Louisiana state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) go to the Louisiana 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
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Located in
- Baton Rouge
- Federal court districts
- 3
- Our office
- By mail via Washington, D.C.
Federal or Louisiana document?
| Document | Apostille from |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State |
| Louisiana state police check | Louisiana Secretary of State |
| Naturalization / citizenship certificate | U.S. Department of State |
| Louisiana birth, death or marriage certificate | Louisiana Secretary of State |
| Document notarized in Louisiana | Louisiana Secretary of State |
| Federal court record | U.S. Department of State |
| Louisiana state court record | Louisiana Secretary of State |
Federal courts in Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
City guides: New Orleans · Baton Rouge
How we serve Louisiana
We serve Louisiana by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications; our nearest office to Louisiana is Houston. There’s no need to visit an office in person. We cover New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette and every other part of Louisiana.
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: Louisiana 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 Louisiana residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Louisiana:
Where are Louisiana state documents apostilled?
Louisiana-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Louisiana — are apostilled by the Louisiana 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 Louisiana authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Louisiana Secretary of State |
|---|
Source: Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
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).
Louisiana — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Louisiana?
No. Every U.S. federal document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Louisiana Secretary of State handles only Louisiana state documents.
Who issues apostilles for Louisiana state documents?
The Louisiana Secretary of State in Baton Rouge.
Which federal courts are in Louisiana?
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Do I need to visit an office in Louisiana?
No. We work with Louisiana 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.