United States Capitol building in Washington D.C. at golden hour

WASHINGTON D.C. APOSTILLE

Apostille Services in Washington D.C. — Fast, Secure, Nationwide

For Washington D.C. residents planning a move abroad, marrying overseas, pursuing dual citizenship, or filing corporate paperwork internationally, apostille authentication is handled through the District of Columbia Office of the Secretary. Documents issued by the DC government (birth certificates, marriage licenses, notarizations) get a DC apostille from the Office of the Secretary — separate from federal documents, which go through the U.S. Department of State. We manage submission, tracking, and international return shipping.

From $150 / document State fees + U.S. shipping included

Service fee includes state filing fees and U.S. domestic return shipping via 2-day FedEx (UPS used for federal documents only). International return shipping available for an additional fee.

Get My Quote & Requirements Ask About Your Document

No payment required to request a quote. We confirm your document's processing route, total price, and estimated timeline before payment.

HOW IT WORKS

How to get a Washington D.C. apostille

Submit your request

Tell us what you need on the intake form. We confirm pricing for your specific Washington D.C. document before you pay.

We submit to DC

We prepare your document and submit it to the Office of the Secretary — Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA).

You receive it back

Apostilled original returned by tracked courier — domestic or international.

DOCUMENTS

Documents commonly apostilled in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. birth and death certificates (state vital records)
Washington D.C. marriage certificates and divorce decrees
Notarized powers of attorney and affidavits
Articles of incorporation and certificates of good standing from Washington D.C.
Diplomas and transcripts from Washington D.C. universities and schools
Single status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
FBI background checks (federal apostille, via the U.S. Department of State)
Court documents from Washington D.C. courts

STATE AUTHORITY

Washington D.C. apostille authority

Washington D.C. requirements to know

ONCA authenticates documents notarized by a D.C. notary and certified documents signed by a D.C. government agency.
Documents notarized outside D.C. must go to the state where the notary is commissioned.
Federal documents, including FBI background checks, go to the U.S. Department of State instead.

Once you have the eligible document, GFG can review it, coordinate the apostille process, and arrange tracked return shipping. Additional certification requirements may apply depending on how the document was issued.

Official Washington D.C. apostille guidance

Information last checked: September 2026.

Issuing Authority

Office of the Secretary — Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)

Location

Washington, DC

Your Total Price

From $150 per document — the Washington D.C. government fee, document review, submission, and tracked U.S. return shipping are all included.

Timing

Government processing: ONCA publishes five business days after receipt of a complete mail-in request; same-day walk-in service is also offered.
GFG standard service: About 2-4 weeks end-to-end, including the government's processing and shipping.
Shipping: Tracked U.S. return shipping is included; international delivery is quoted separately.

Estimates only — government processing speed cannot be guaranteed.

WHY WORK WITH US

Why clients in Washington D.C. choose Global Felicity Group

No in-person visit required — mail your document from anywhere in Washington D.C..
Bilingual support (English & Spanish) with experience handling international destinations.
Tracked return shipping — domestic and international — so you know where your document is at every step.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Washington D.C. apostille questions, answered.

State-issued documents (Washington D.C. birth certificates, marriage records, notarized affidavits, Washington D.C. corporate filings) get a state apostille from the District of Columbia Office of the Secretary. Federal documents (FBI background checks, IRS letters, USDA certificates) get a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. If you're not sure which you need, send us the document type and destination country and we'll confirm.

ONCA publishes five business days after receipt of a complete mail-in request; same-day walk-in service is also offered. Total timing also includes shipping to us, our review, and tracked return shipping. Tell us your deadline and we'll confirm the most appropriate option before you send your document. Government processing speed cannot be guaranteed.

Our service fee starts at $150 per document and includes document review, the Washington D.C. government fee, submission, and tracked U.S. return shipping. International return shipping is an add-on.

Yes. We need a certified copy from the Washington D.C. vital records office (state or, where applicable, county). Hospital souvenir certificates and photocopies can't be apostilled. If you don't have the right version, we can guide you to order one before we start.

No — the entire process is handled by mail. Ship your Washington D.C.-issued document to us from anywhere in the state, and we submit it to the authority, track it, and return the apostilled original by courier. No in-person visit required.

Helpful guides before you order

Ready to apostille your Washington D.C. document?

Start your intake — we'll confirm pricing before you pay.

Start Your DC Apostille