State guide
Federal Apostille Services in North Carolina
How North Carolina residents get federal documents apostilled — and how that differs from North Carolina state documents handled by the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille counter in North Carolina — or anywhere outside Washington, D.C. Federal documents from North Carolina residents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. North Carolina state documents go to the North Carolina Secretary of State in Raleigh.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from North Carolina are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by the North Carolina Secretary of State.
- North Carolina state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) go to the North Carolina 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
- North Carolina Secretary of State
- Located in
- Raleigh
- Federal court districts
- 3
- Our office
- Charlotte
Federal or North Carolina document?
| Document | Apostille from |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State |
| North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation check | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Naturalization / citizenship certificate | U.S. Department of State |
| North Carolina birth, death or marriage certificate | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Document notarized in North Carolina | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| Federal court record | U.S. Department of State |
| North Carolina state court record | North Carolina Secretary of State |
Federal courts in North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
City guides: Charlotte · Raleigh
How we serve North Carolina
We have a processing office in North Carolina: Charlotte. 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 Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham and every other part of North Carolina.
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: North Carolina 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 North Carolina residents
Pick your document for the exact route from North Carolina:
Where are North Carolina state documents apostilled?
North Carolina-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in North Carolina — are apostilled by the North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentication Office, 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 North Carolina authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | North Carolina Secretary of State, Authentication Office |
|---|---|
| In person | 2 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2903 No appointment needed |
| Mailing address | PO Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622 |
| Phone | 919-814-5400 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $10 |
Source: North Carolina Secretary 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina?
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).
North Carolina — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in North Carolina?
No. Every U.S. federal document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The North Carolina Secretary of State handles only North Carolina state documents.
Who issues apostilles for North Carolina state documents?
The North Carolina Secretary of State in Raleigh.
Which federal courts are in North Carolina?
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina; U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina; U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Do I need to visit an office in North Carolina?
No. We work with North Carolina 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.