When your documents need to be used internationally, you'll need an apostille. But here's what many people don't know: there are two types — state and federal — and choosing the wrong one delays your plans.
The good news is it's easy to tell which you need once you know the one question to ask. Here's the whole thing in plain English.
First, what is an apostille?
An apostille is an official certification that proves a government document is authentic, so it's accepted in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention (120+ countries). Without it, foreign governments won't accept your document. The type of apostille you need depends on which government issued the original document.
State apostille (the most common)
- For documents issued by a U.S. state — birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates, diplomas and transcripts, notarized documents, and business/corporate records.
- Authenticated by the state that issued it — usually the Secretary of State.
- Turnaround: a few business days to a couple of weeks, depending on the state and the speed you choose.
Oregon and Washington documents we handle in-house, start to finish, with three speed options — Standard (about 10 business days, $250), Premium (4–5 business days, $350), and White-Glove VIP (1–2 business days, $450). Additional documents are $150 each. Documents from any other state are covered through our trusted courier team; we route each one to the correct state authority. See state apostille details.
Federal apostille (less common)
- For documents issued by a U.S. federal agency — FBI background checks, naturalization/citizenship certificates, federal court documents, and military records.
- Authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
- Turnaround: 7–10 business days with us — the fastest in the nation. On your own through the mail-in process, it's typically 5–8 weeks.
Our federal apostille is a flat $350 for the first document and $200 for each additional, with 2-day return shipping included. See federal apostille details.
Federal vs. state at a glance
| State apostille | Federal apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Birth, marriage, death, divorce, diplomas, notarized & business docs | FBI background checks, naturalization, federal court, military records |
| Authenticated by | The issuing state (Secretary of State) | U.S. Department of State |
| Turnaround (with us) | 1–2 to ~10 business days (OR & WA, by tier) | 7–10 business days |
| Pricing (with us) | From $250 (OR/WA), +$150 each additional | $350 first, +$200 each additional |
How to know which you need
Ask one question: which government issued my original document?
- A U.S. state agency (e.g., an Oregon birth certificate)? → State apostille.
- A U.S. federal agency (e.g., an FBI background check)? → Federal apostille.
Still not sure? That's normal — and it's exactly what we sort out for you. Just start your order or call and we'll confirm which apostille your document needs before anything moves.
A few common questions
What if my document is from another state?
No problem — we cover all 50 states. Your document has to be apostilled by the state that issued it, and we route it to the correct authority for you. (Documents from states other than Oregon and Washington are quoted individually, with no charge until we confirm.)
Do I need a translation too?
Many countries require a certified translation alongside the apostilled document. Get the apostille first, then translate the full packet. We handle translation too, certified or standard, typically $50 to $75 per page.
Can one order include both a federal and a state document?
Yes. You can add federal and state documents to the same order and pay once — start your apostille and add each document as you go.
Not sure which one you need?
Start your order and we'll confirm the right apostille for your document before anything is billed — or call and a real person will walk you through it.