Federal Apostille Services
Federal document apostilles handled through the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
Federal documents — FBI Identity History Summaries, USDA export certificates, patents, and other records issued by federal agencies — are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by state offices.
The federal apostille process has its own quirks: strict document requirements, specific fee structures, and processing times that fluctuate. We prepare the submission correctly, dispatch it, and track it through to completion.
Who needs this service
- Applicants for foreign residency who need an FBI background check apostilled
- Exporters shipping USDA-regulated goods abroad
- Inventors licensing patents internationally
- Any person or business with a document issued by a federal agency
Required documents
- Original federal document, unaltered and unopened where applicable
- Cover request with correct fee
- Return shipping arrangements
Step-by-step process
- 1Order the federal document
For FBI checks, order through the FBI or an approved channeler. For other federal documents, order directly from the agency.
- 2Send the document to us
Ship or bring us the untampered federal document.
- 3Federal apostille submission
We dispatch to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Authentications.
- 4Delivery back to you
We return the apostilled document by your preferred method.
Processing times
- Standard mail-in
Currently four to eight weeks; timing has fluctuated over the past year.
- Expedited
Limited expedited service is available for some situations.
- In-person same-day
In some cases we can dispatch a courier for same-day drop-off and pickup.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending state documents to the U.S. Department of State (they will be returned)
- Opening or altering an FBI report before submission
- Ordering the FBI check months before submission when the destination requires recency
- Sending translations too early — most destinations want translation after the apostille
Federal Apostille Services — FAQ
Related resources
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