Massachusetts
FD-258 Fingerprint Card Apostille for Massachusetts Residents
How Massachusetts residents get their FD-258 Fingerprint Card authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled. In Massachusetts, the one local step is getting fingerprinted; the FBI report your prints produce is then authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Send us the report once it’s issued and we handle the apostille.
Key takeaways
- Issued by a federal agency; apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State — the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can’t apostille it.
- 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.
- Authenticated by
- The FBI report it produces
- Massachusetts apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston
- Our nearest office
- Boston
- Price
- $299 per document ($399 non-Hague), government fees included
Getting fingerprinted in Massachusetts
Fingerprinting is the one step that has to happen locally. The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled — it produces the FBI report, and the report is what gets authenticated.
In Massachusetts, prints can be taken by local law-enforcement agencies and licensed fingerprinting providers in cities such as Boston, Worcester, Springfield. Electronic (live scan) capture through an FBI-approved channeler is usually fastest.
Once the report is issued, we authenticate it in Washington, D.C. and ship it anywhere. See FBI background check apostille.
About the FD-258 Fingerprint Card
How the FD-258 fingerprint card fits into obtaining and apostilling an FBI background check.
What the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can do
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston issues apostilles for documents signed by Massachusetts officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Massachusetts registrars, Massachusetts state-court records, and documents notarized by Massachusetts notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.
State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.
Getting it done from Massachusetts
We have a processing office in Massachusetts: Boston. 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.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
Serving Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge and everywhere else in Massachusetts.
Official sources: FBI — Identity History Summary Checks · FBI — Approved Channelers · Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries).
Massachusetts state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) are apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Commissions Section · One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108 · 617-727-2836 · state fee $6. We don’t provide state-level apostilles. Official page (checked October 2026).
How long does the FD-258 Fingerprint Card apostille take from Massachusetts?
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 it cost from Massachusetts?
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).
FD-258 Fingerprint Card in Massachusetts — FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts apostille my FD-258 Fingerprint Card?
No — and neither can anyone else: the FD-258 card is never apostilled. The FBI report it produces is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Massachusetts?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Massachusetts clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Massachusetts?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Related: FD-258 Fingerprint Card — full guide · All documents in Massachusetts · Federal vs. state apostille
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.