FAQ

A federal apostille is an apostille certificate issued by the U.S. Department of State for certain U.S. federal documents that will be used in Hague Apostille Convention countries. It confirms the authenticity of the federal signature or seal on the document for international recognition.

An apostille is used when the destination country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. An authentication is used when the destination country is not in the Hague Convention; it is often followed by embassy or consulate legalization depending on that country’s rules.

You typically need U.S. Department of State processing for federal documents such as FBI background checks, certain federal agency letters, and other documents bearing a federal signature or seal. State-issued vital records or notarized documents are usually processed at the state level first.

The destination country determines whether you need an apostille (Hague) or authentication (non-Hague). If you are unsure, we can help you identify the correct route based on your destination country and document type so you avoid rejections and delays.

Yes. FederalApostille.org supports nationwide mail-in service for federal apostille and authentication processing. Clients from any state can submit documents by shipping them to our processing address using tracked courier methods.

No. FederalApostille.org is a private, independent courier and document handling service. We are not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any government agency.

Yes. FBI Identity History Summary reports are one of the most common federal documents that require U.S. Department of State apostille (for Hague countries) or authentication (for non-Hague countries).

In many cases, yes. If your FBI report is issued as an official PDF (such as through an authorized channel), you can upload it and we can advise whether it can be printed and submitted for federal processing based on current acceptance rules and destination requirements.

Most U.S. birth certificates are state vital records and are typically apostilled by the Secretary of State in the state where the certificate was issued, not by the U.S. Department of State. If you are unsure, we can route you correctly.

Most marriage certificates are state vital records and usually require state-level apostille from the issuing state. Federal processing is usually not the correct path for state vital records unless a special federal document or federal certification applies.

Typically, death certificates are state vital records and require state-level apostille. The correct step depends on where the certified record was issued and whether the destination is Hague or non-Hague.

Diplomas and transcripts are usually processed at the state level after proper notarization or certification, depending on the issuing institution and state rules. We can help verify what your destination country or school requires.

Notarized powers of attorney are generally state-level apostille items because notarizations are commissioned by a state. For some countries, embassy legalization may be needed if the destination is non-Hague.

Embassy legalization is a step some non-Hague countries require after State Department authentication. It confirms the authenticated document is acceptable for use in that destination, often with additional forms, fees, and shipping requirements.

Not always. Requirements vary by country and sometimes by document type or end-user agency. We recommend verifying the destination’s requirement and we can help you plan the correct sequence.

A Certificate of Free Sale is commonly used for exporting products and may require federal authentication and/or embassy legalization depending on destination. Requirements vary widely, so routing and document formatting are important.

Many export-related documents referencing federal agencies may require federal authentication. The correct steps depend on the signature, issuing authority, and destination country’s legalization pathway.

Yes. Corporate documents (e.g., certificates, board resolutions, powers of attorney) are common for overseas transactions. The correct route depends on where the documents are notarized or certified and the destination’s requirements.

Yes. If your destination requires translation, we can coordinate certified translation so your apostille/authentication package is complete. Translation requirements depend on the receiving agency and country.