Expect $15–$25 in state fees or $20 in federal fees per document. Full-service handling, including document review, submission, and return shipping, typically runs $95–$225 per document. Translation and embassy legalization are separate.
- ✓Government fees are small. Service, shipping, and translation are the bulk of most invoices.
- ✓Federal apostilles cost the same everywhere in the U.S. — $20 per document.
- ✓Non-Hague legalization adds embassy or consulate fees that vary widely by country.
- ✓Same-day hand-delivery in PA and NJ carries a premium but saves days.
The three pieces of every apostille invoice
- Government fee — set by the state or federal office.
- Service fee — what a service provider charges to handle the submission.
- Ancillary costs — shipping, translation, notarization, and (for non-Hague countries) embassy legalization.
Current government fees
| Authority | Fee per document | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Dept. of State | $15 | Mail-in or in-person |
| New Jersey Treasury | $25 | Mail-in or in-person |
| New York Dept. of State | $10 | County authentication may add $3 |
| Delaware Dept. of State | $30 | Same-day walk-in service |
| U.S. Dept. of State (federal) | $20 | Applies to FBI, USDA, IRS, etc. |
Typical service fees
Service pricing varies by document type, urgency, and whether the document needs additional steps like county authentication or notarization first.
| Service | Typical range | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard state apostille | $95–$150 per doc | Review, filing, return shipping |
| Rush / same-day state | $175–$275 per doc | Hand-delivery to Harrisburg or Trenton |
| Federal apostille (FBI, USDA) | $125–$200 per doc | Review, mail-in filing, tracking |
| Non-Hague legalization | $250–$650 per doc | Full chain to embassy or consulate |
Hidden costs to plan for
- •Certified translation: $25–$60 per page, usually after the apostille is attached.
- •Certified copy of a vital record: $10–$30 from the state or county.
- •Notarization: $5–$25 per signature depending on the state.
- •Return shipping by tracked mail or courier: $10–$60.
- •Embassy or consulate fees: $30–$200+ for non-Hague countries.
Ways to save money
- •Bundle multiple documents in one submission — service fees usually discount past the first document.
- •Skip rush service if you have more than four weeks of lead time.
- •Order the correct certified copy the first time so you do not pay to redo the submission.
- •Use one service provider for the entire chain rather than paying multiple middlemen for non-Hague destinations.
When rush service is worth it
For local PA and NJ documents, hand-delivery to Harrisburg or Trenton can turn a two-week process into a same-day or next-day one. That premium is often worth it when a visa deadline, court hearing, or job start date is fixed.
Federal apostilles cannot be rushed to same-day, but a courier submission and pickup can shave two to three weeks off the round trip.
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