A federal apostille is an authentication certificate issued by the U.S. Department of State that verifies the authenticity of a U.S. federal document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. The apostille confirms that the document bears a genuine signature and seal from an authorized federal official.
Unlike state apostilles (which are issued by individual state Secretaries of State), federal apostilles can only be obtained through the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing handles the entire preparation, submission, and coordination process with the Department of State on your behalf.
ⓘ Why Use Federal Apostille and Notary Processing?
We are an independent document processing service based in Washington, D.C. that specializes in federal apostilles. All federal apostilles are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State — we prepare your documents, submit them on your behalf, and coordinate the process so you don’t have to navigate the bureaucracy alone. Our office is located at 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, steps from where your documents are processed.
Documents Eligible for Federal Apostille
The following types of federal documents are eligible for apostille by the U.S. Department of State. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing handles all of these document types:
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FBI Background Checks
Identity History Summary (rap sheet) from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
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Naturalization Certificates
USCIS Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) and Certificate of Citizenship.
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Federal Court Documents
Orders, judgments, and certified records from U.S. District Courts and Federal Courts of Appeal.
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Military Records (DD-214)
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and official military service records.
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Social Security Letters
Benefit verification letters, earnings statements, and other SSA correspondence.
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Patent & Trademark Records
USPTO patent grants, trademark registrations, and related certification documents.
Our Pricing
Our federal document apostille service is $120 per document. This fee covers our complete end-to-end service: document review, preparation, submission to the U.S. Department of State, and return of your apostilled document. No hidden fees, no surprises.
💰 Service Fee: $120 Per Document
Our flat rate of $120 per document includes document review, preparation, submission to the Department of State, and return shipping. You can submit your federal documents by uploading online, mailing them in, or bringing them in person to our Washington, D.C. office.
How to Submit Your Documents
Federal Apostille and Notary Processing offers three convenient ways to submit your federal documents for apostille processing:
- Upload Online — Complete our online application form and upload your documents digitally for the fastest way to get started
- Mail In — Send your original documents by mail to our office at 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004. We recommend using a trackable shipping method (USPS Priority, FedEx, or UPS)
- Bring In Person — Visit our Washington, D.C. office at 400 8th St NW, DC 20004 and drop off your documents directly. We are available 24/7
How Our Process Works
When you work with Federal Apostille and Notary Processing, we handle the complex parts so you don’t have to. Our service is $120 per document. Here’s how our process works:
- Submit Your DocumentsUpload your documents online through our application form, mail them to our office at 400 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, or bring them in person. You can also call us at (760) 469-2997 or email submissions@federalapostille.org. We are available 24/7.
- We Review Your DocumentsOur team reviews your federal documents to confirm they meet the Department of State’s requirements — including proper signatures, seals, and that the original document (not a copy) is present. We identify any issues before submission to prevent delays.
- We Prepare Your Submission PackageWe complete all required paperwork and assemble your submission for the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., ensuring everything is accurate and complete.
- We Submit to the U.S. Department of StateBecause we are based in Washington, D.C. at 400 8th St NW, we coordinate directly with the Department of State’s Office of Authentications to submit your documents for apostille processing.
- You Receive Your Apostilled DocumentOnce the Department of State issues the apostille certificate and attaches it to your document, we return the completed document to you, ready for international use in any Hague Convention member country.
🕑 Don’t Navigate the Bureaucracy Alone
The Department of State’s standard processing takes 4–8 weeks. Errors in your submission — wrong forms, missing signatures, photocopies instead of originals — can result in your documents being returned and weeks of additional delay. Our team ensures your submission is correct the first time. Contact us to discuss your timeline.
Federal Apostille vs. State Apostille
It is important to understand the difference between a federal apostille and a state apostille, because submitting your document to the wrong authority will result in rejection:
| Feature | Federal Apostille | State Apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing Authority | U.S. Department of State | State Secretary of State |
| Eligible Documents | FBI checks, naturalization certificates, federal court records, military records, SSA letters, USPTO records | Birth certificates, marriage licenses, state court records, notarized documents |
| Processing Location | Washington, D.C. only | Each state’s capital |
| Processing Time | 4 – 8 weeks | Varies by state |
Federal Apostille vs. Embassy Legalization
The method of document authentication depends on whether the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention:
| Feature | Apostille | Embassy Legalization |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Countries | Hague Convention members (120+ countries) | Non-Hague Convention countries |
| Issuing Authority | U.S. Department of State | Department of State + Foreign Embassy |
| Process Steps | One-step authentication | Multi-step (authentication then embassy legalization) |
| Processing Time | 4 – 8 weeks | 6 – 12+ weeks |
Why Use Federal Apostille and Notary Processing
Getting a federal document apostilled involves navigating the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications — a process that can be time-consuming and unforgiving of errors. Here’s why clients trust us to handle it:
- Based in Washington, D.C. — Our office at 400 8th St NW, DC 20004 puts us steps from the Department of State, allowing us to coordinate directly and efficiently
- We prevent costly mistakes — Incorrect submissions are returned without processing, adding weeks of delay. Our team reviews every document before submission to ensure it meets all requirements
- End-to-end service — We handle the paperwork, the forms, the submission, and the follow-up so you can focus on your immigration, employment, or personal matters
- All federal document types — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, military records, federal court documents, SSA letters, and more
- Additional services when you need them — Notary public, certified/sworn translation, and embassy legalization are all available alongside your apostille
- Available 24/7 — Call (760) 469-2997 or email submissions@federalapostille.org any time
Our Full Range of Services
Federal apostilles are our core service. Federal Apostille and Notary Processing also offers:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Federal Apostille | Apostille processing for all U.S. federal documents through the Department of State — FBI checks, naturalization certificates, federal court documents, military records (DD-214), SSA letters, USPTO records, and federal name change petitions |
| Notary Public | Professional notary public services for documents that require notarization before or alongside apostille processing |
| Certified / Sworn Translation | Certified translations for countries that require your apostilled documents to be translated into their official language |
| Embassy Legalization | For countries that are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention, we coordinate embassy legalization through the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate |
Important Requirements for Federal Apostille
- The original document must be submitted — the Department of State does not accept photocopies or digital printouts
- Documents must bear official signatures and seals from the issuing federal agency to be eligible for apostille
- FBI reports obtained through FBI-approved channelers are accepted, provided they bear the official FBI seal and signature
- Some countries may require a certified translation of the apostilled document — we offer this as an additional service
- Non-Hague Convention countries may require embassy legalization instead of or in addition to an apostille — we coordinate this as well
ⓘ Not Sure Which Service You Need?
If you’re unsure whether your document requires a federal apostille, state apostille, or embassy legalization, our team can help. Contact us at (760) 469-2997 or submissions@federalapostille.org and we’ll guide you through the process.
