It's the first question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on two things — what kind of document you have, and how fast you need it. Here's the real breakdown so you can plan around a deadline instead of hoping.
State apostilles (Oregon & Washington documents)
State documents — birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas and transcripts, and notarized documents — are authenticated by the state's Secretary of State. For Oregon and Washington documents, we handle the whole thing in-house with three speeds:
| Tier | Turnaround | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | About 10 business days | $250 |
| Premium | 4–5 business days | $350 |
| White-Glove VIP | 1–2 business days | $450 |
Additional documents are $150 each. Documents from any other state are covered through our courier network and quoted individually — no charge until we confirm. See state apostille details.
Federal apostilles (FBI checks & federal documents)
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, federal court and military records — are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. This is where timelines vary the most:
- On your own (mail-in): typically 5–8 weeks, sometimes longer during backlogs.
- With us: 7–10 business days — the fastest in the nation — with 2-day return shipping included.
Our federal apostille is $350 for the first document and $200 for each additional. See federal apostille details.
Don't forget the step before the apostille
If your document doesn't exist yet, that time counts too. The most common example: an apostilled FBI background check for a job or visa abroad. You need the FBI check first (our electronic channeler returns results in about 30 minutes — versus weeks by mail), then the apostille. Build both steps into your timeline. Here's the full FBI-check-plus-apostille walkthrough.
The four things that actually cause delays
- The wrong apostille type. Sending a federal document to the state (or vice versa) means starting over. Not sure which you need? Here's how to tell.
- Uncertified copies. Vital records (birth, marriage, death) must be certified originals or certified copies — photocopies and scans can't be apostilled. Order fresh certified copies early if yours are old; you can request them online at VitalChek.
- Translation done too early. If your destination country needs a certified translation, get the apostille first, then translate the finished packet (translating too early means paying twice). We can handle the translation for you too.
- Waiting until the last minute. The single biggest cause of missed deadlines. Start as soon as you know you'll need it.
Working against a deadline?
Start your order and we'll confirm your document type and the fastest realistic timeline before anything is billed.