Federal Apostille Service | U.S. Department of State Authentication | FederalApostille.org
Federal Apostille Service
U.S. Department of State Authentication · Nationwide Processing · Flat-Rate $120
FederalApostille.org provides structured, compliant assistance for obtaining federal apostilles and federal authentications issued by the United States Department of State – Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. Federal apostilles are required for U.S. documents that are federal in nature, federally issued, or when a foreign government specifically requires authentication by the U.S. Department of State rather than a state authority.
All federal apostilles and authentications are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State. FederalApostille.org is an independent document processing service that assists with document preparation, eligibility review, submission coordination, status monitoring, and secure return delivery.
Apostille certification under the Hague Apostille Convention
What Is a Federal Apostille?
Definition: A federal apostille is an official certification issued by the U.S. Department of State that authenticates the signature and authority of a federal official on a U.S. federal document for use in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
For countries that are not members of the Hague Convention, the U.S. Department of State issues a federal authentication, which is typically followed by embassy or consulate legalization. Federal apostilles differ from state-level apostilles, which are issued by individual state Secretaries of State.
U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — Washington, D.C.
When Is a Federal Apostille Required?
A federal apostille is required when any of the following conditions apply:
The document was issued by a U.S. federal agency.
The document bears the signature of a federal officer.
The destination country specifically requires U.S. Department of State authentication.
The document cannot be apostilled at the state level.
The document is used for international government, immigration, education, or legal purposes.
Common use cases: immigration filings, dual citizenship applications, foreign employment, international education, overseas business operations, and foreign government compliance.
Federal Documents Eligible for Apostille or Authentication
Common Federal Documents
FBI Background Checks (Identity History Summary Checks)
Certificates of Naturalization
Certificates of Citizenship
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA / FS-240)
Social Security Administration letters
Federal court documents
U.S. Department of Justice documents
U.S. Department of Homeland Security records
USCIS-issued documents
Federal agency certifications and letters
Important Eligibility Notes
Documents must be originals or properly certified copies.
Photocopies are not accepted unless certified by the issuing federal authority.
Some documents require prior certification before federal submission.
Certain documents may require notarization or agency verification prior to Department of State processing.
Our team conducts a full pre-submission review to confirm eligibility before any federal filing is made.
Hague Apostille vs. Federal Authentication
🌐 Federal Apostille (Hague Convention Countries)
Issued when the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
No embassy legalization is required after issuance.
Document is ready for international use immediately upon return.
🏛️ Federal Authentication (Non-Hague Countries)
Issued when the destination country is not a Hague Convention member.
Most documents require additional embassy or consulate legalization after federal authentication.
FederalApostille.org coordinates onward embassy legalization when required.
Our Federal Apostille Process
1
Document Review & Pre-Screening
Eligibility verification and formatting check against U.S. Department of State requirements.
2
Federal Submission Coordination
Submission of the request package to the Office of Authentications on your behalf.
3
Status Monitoring & Oversight
Active tracking and progress updates throughout federal processing.
4
Secure Return or Delivery
Tracked shipping back to you, or forwarded for embassy legalization if needed.
Processing Times
Current federal processing time: approximately 10–12 business days, calculated Monday–Thursday. Processing times are set by the U.S. Department of State and are subject to change.
FederalApostille.org provides up-to-date processing guidance at the time of submission so you know exactly when to expect your authenticated documents.
Who Uses Federal Apostille Services?
Our federal apostille services support:
Individuals applying for dual citizenship
Foreign employment and overseas relocation
International students and academic institutions
Corporations conducting cross-border operations
Attorneys and legal professionals
Immigration and compliance filings
Government and NGO documentation
Important Disclosures
FederalApostille.org is not a government agency.
All apostilles and authentications are issued by the U.S. Department of State.
Processing times are determined by government authorities.
Acceptance of documents is subject to foreign country requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a federal apostille?
A federal apostille is an official certification issued by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, that authenticates the signature and authority of a federal official on a U.S. federal document for use in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
What is the difference between a federal apostille and a federal authentication?
A federal apostille is issued when the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention and requires no further legalization. A federal authentication is issued when the destination country is not a Hague member and typically must be followed by embassy or consulate legalization before the document is accepted abroad.
What is the difference between a federal apostille and a state apostille?
A federal apostille is issued by the U.S. Department of State and authenticates federally issued documents. A state apostille is issued by an individual state's Secretary of State and authenticates documents issued at the state level, such as state-issued birth certificates, marriage certificates, and notarized documents.
Which documents require a federal apostille?
Common documents requiring a federal apostille include FBI Identity History Summary Checks, Certificates of Naturalization, Certificates of Citizenship, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA / FS-240), Social Security Administration letters, federal court documents, U.S. Department of Justice documents, U.S. Department of Homeland Security records, and USCIS-issued documents.
How long does federal apostille processing take?
Federal processing times are set by the U.S. Department of State and are subject to change. The current processing time is approximately 10 to 12 business days, calculated Monday through Thursday. FederalApostille.org provides current processing guidance at the time of submission.
Do I need to be in Washington, D.C. to get a federal apostille?
No. You do not need to travel to Washington, D.C. FederalApostille.org accepts documents by secure mail-in submission from anywhere in the United States and abroad, coordinates filing with the U.S. Department of State on your behalf, and returns the apostilled document by tracked shipping.
Can photocopies be apostilled at the federal level?
No. Documents must be originals or properly certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted by the U.S. Department of State unless they have been certified by the issuing federal authority. Some documents may also require prior notarization or agency verification before federal submission.
What happens if my destination country is not part of the Hague Convention?
If your destination country is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, the U.S. Department of State issues a federal authentication instead of an apostille. The document then typically requires further legalization by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the United States before it can be used abroad.
Is FederalApostille.org a government agency?
No. FederalApostille.org is a private, independent document processing service. All federal apostilles and authentications are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State. We assist with document preparation, eligibility review, submission coordination, status monitoring, and secure return delivery. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any federal, state, or local government authority.
What is the Hague Apostille Convention?
The Hague Apostille Convention is a 1961 international treaty that simplifies the authentication of public documents used between member countries. Documents issued in one member country and bearing an apostille are accepted in all other member countries without further legalization.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
FederalApostille.org offers federal apostille processing at a flat rate of $120 per document. Pricing covers eligibility review, federal submission coordination, status monitoring, and secure return delivery. Additional fees may apply for embassy legalization, expedited shipping, or supplementary services.
Who typically needs federal apostille services?
Federal apostille services are commonly used by individuals applying for dual citizenship, those pursuing foreign employment or overseas relocation, international students and academic institutions, corporations conducting cross-border operations, attorneys and legal professionals, immigration and compliance applicants, and government or NGO personnel.
Federal Apostille & Notary Processing is a private document preparation and processing service and is not a government agency. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any federal, state, or local government authority.
