FBI · IRS · USPTO · SSA · DD-214 · federal courts
Federal document apostille
Federal documents do not go to any state. They go to the US Department of State in Washington, DC. We handle the whole thing for $149 plus the $20 federal fee.
Is your document federal?
The test is simple: who signed it? If the signature belongs to a federal official, it is federal, and only the US Department of State can apostille it. If the signature belongs to a state official, county clerk, or notary, it is a state document and goes to that state's Secretary of State.
| Federal (US Dept of State) | State (Secretary of State) |
|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary | State police or local background check |
| IRS letters, Form 6166 residency certification | State tax documents |
| USPTO patent and trademark records | State business filings, articles, good standing |
| Social Security Administration letters | Birth, marriage, death certificates |
| DD-214 and other military records (certified by NPRC) | Court orders, divorce decrees |
| FDA, USDA, EPA certificates | Diplomas, transcripts (notarized) |
| Federal court documents | Powers of attorney, affidavits (notarized) |
Most people who need a federal apostille need it for an FBI background check, usually for a work visa, residency, teaching abroad, or adoption. That has its own page with the specifics.
What we do
- Confirm the document qualifies and is in the form the Department of State accepts. Some federal documents must be certified by the agency first; we tell you if yours does.
- Prepare the request form (DS-4194) correctly, including the destination country, which determines whether you get an apostille or an authentication certificate.
- Submit to the Office of Authentications with the federal fee.
- Track it, and ship it back to you by the method you chose.
How long it takes
The Office of Authentications publishes its current processing time for mail-in requests on travel.state.gov. It has ranged widely over the past few years depending on volume, so we do not print a number here that could be stale. When you request a quote we check the figure that day and tell you.
Our own handling on the front and back end is fast: your documents are reviewed and submitted within two business days of arriving. There is no separate rush tier for federal documents because the Department of State does not offer expedited processing for mail-in requests; the federal queue is the federal queue.
Common mistakes we see
- Sending an FBI check to a state. It comes back unprocessed.
- Notarizing an FBI check. It does not need it, and the extra certificate can cause a rejection.
- Using a third-party channeler's report without the FBI signature. Some FBI-approved channelers issue reports that are not authenticated on an FBI signature. Order directly from the FBI, or check with us first.
- Wrong destination country on the form. Hague countries get an apostille; non-Hague countries get an authentication certificate, which then needs the embassy step. Getting this wrong means starting over.
Get your exact price, all fees included
Two business hours to a written total. Nothing to pay and nothing to mail until you have it.
Start My ApostilleFrequently asked questions
Which documents are federal?
Anything issued by a federal agency: FBI Identity History Summary (background check), IRS letters and Form 6166, USPTO patent and trademark records, Social Security Administration letters, FDA certificates, USDA certificates, Certificates of Naturalization (with restrictions), military records like a DD-214, and federal court documents.
Can a state apostille my FBI background check?
No. A state can only apostille documents signed by officials within that state. The FBI is federal, so its documents go to the US Department of State. Sending one to a state office wastes the time and the fee.
Does my FBI check need to be notarized first?
No. The FBI Identity History Summary is signed by an FBI official and is authenticated on that signature. Do not notarize it; adding a notary certificate can cause a rejection.
I have the FBI result as a PDF. Is that enough?
An FBI Identity History Summary delivered electronically is accepted by the Department of State when printed, because it carries the FBI's digital signature. If you received a paper copy by mail, send that. If in doubt, send us a photo and we will confirm before you mail anything.
What is the federal fee?
$20 per document, set by 22 CFR 22.1 (item 46, basic authentication service). It is on your quote as a separate line, passed through at cost.