State guide
Federal Apostille Services in Texas
How Texas residents get federal documents apostilled — and how that differs from Texas state documents handled by the Texas Secretary of State.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille counter in Texas — or anywhere outside Washington, D.C. Federal documents from Texas residents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. Texas state documents go to the Texas Secretary of State in Austin.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Texas are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by the Texas Secretary of State.
- Texas state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) go to the Texas 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
- Texas Secretary of State
- Located in
- Austin
- Federal court districts
- 4
- Our offices
- Houston and Austin
Federal or Texas document?
| Document | Apostille from |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State |
| Texas Department of Public Safety check | Texas Secretary of State |
| Naturalization / citizenship certificate | U.S. Department of State |
| Texas birth, death or marriage certificate | Texas Secretary of State |
| Document notarized in Texas | Texas Secretary of State |
| Federal court record | U.S. Department of State |
| Texas state court record | Texas Secretary of State |
Federal courts in Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
City guides: Houston · Dallas · San Antonio · Austin · Fort Worth · El Paso · Plano · Corpus Christi · Laredo
How we serve Texas
We have processing offices in Texas: Houston and Austin. They handle orders by phone and online and aren’t open to the public, so documents come to us by mail — the fastest route to Washington. We cover Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and every other part of Texas.
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: Texas 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 Texas residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Texas:
Where are Texas state documents apostilled?
Texas-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Texas — are apostilled by the Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit, 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 Texas authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Texas Secretary of State, Authentications Unit |
|---|---|
| In person | 400 West 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701 Walk-in Monday and Friday; appointment required Tuesday–Thursday |
| Mailing address | PO Box 13550, Austin, TX 78711-3550 |
| Phone | (512) 463-5705 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| State fee per apostille | $15 |
| Processing time (published) | Walk-in same day; mail up to 2 weeks |
Source: Texas 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 Texas?
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 Texas?
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).
Texas — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Texas?
No. Every U.S. federal document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Texas Secretary of State handles only Texas state documents.
Who issues apostilles for Texas state documents?
The Texas Secretary of State in Austin.
Which federal courts are in Texas?
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Do I need to visit an office in Texas?
No. We work with Texas 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.