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Federal Apostille USA

Washington

DEA Registration Apostille in Washington

How Washington residents get their DEA Registration authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Washington Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.

Quick answer

There is no federal apostille office in Washington. Federal documents like your DEA Registration are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Washington Secretary of State can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.

Key takeaways

  • Issued by Drug Enforcement Administration; apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State — the Washington Secretary of State 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
U.S. Department of State
Washington apostille office
Washington Secretary of State, Olympia
Our nearest office
Seattle
Price
$299 per document, government fees included

Why living in Washington doesn’t change the route

This document is issued by Drug Enforcement Administration, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.

So the process for Washington residents is the same as for anyone else in the country: get the document to us, we hand-deliver it in Washington, and it comes back ready to use.

About the DEA Registration

How to apostille a DEA registration certificate for pharmaceutical export and practitioner licensing abroad.

Authentication isn't authorization. An apostille proves your registration document is genuine. It does not authorize international shipment of controlled substances, which requires separate permits.

What the Washington Secretary of State can do

The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia issues apostilles for documents signed by Washington officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Washington registrars, Washington state-court records, and documents notarized by Washington 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 Washington

We have a processing office in Washington: Seattle. 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.

DestinationRouteOur turnaround
Hague Convention countryU.S. Department of State apostille10–12 business days
Non-Hague countryAuthentication + embassy legalization15–17 business days

Serving Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue and everywhere else in Washington.

Official sources: DEA Diversion Control Division — Registration · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Washington Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries).

Washington state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) are apostilled by the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division · 960 Washington St, Cheney, WA 99004 · (360) 725-0377 · state fee $15. We don’t provide state-level apostilles. Official page (checked October 2026).

How long does the DEA Registration apostille take from Washington?

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.

RouteHowProcessing timeCost
Mail it yourselfForm DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VAWithin 5 weeks of receipt$20 per document + shipping
Drop it off yourself600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointmentWithin 7 business days$20 per document + travel
Emergency appointmentOnly for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeksSame day$20 per document
Through Federal Apostille USAWe review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking10–12 business days total$299 all-in ($399 non-Hague)

What does it cost from Washington?

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).

DEA Registration in Washington — FAQ

Can the Washington Secretary of State apostille my DEA Registration?

No. This is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can authenticate it. A state apostille on it would be rejected abroad.

Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Washington?

No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Washington clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.

How long does it take from Washington?

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: DEA Registration — full guide · All documents in Washington · 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.