Federal Apostille & Authentication Service – Ready in Just 9-12 Business Days!
We are located just 15 minutes from the U.S. Department of State, Elite Documents offers fast, efficient federal authentication and apostille services. Skip the typical 4-week mail-in wait and use our walk-in courier service to process your documents in just 9-12 business days. We handle everything from submission to completion, ensuring your documents are ready for international use quickly and accurately.
Why You Need an Apostille/Authentication Certificate
If you plan to use a U.S. document in another country, an apostille or authentication is often required to confirm that the document is legitimate and recognized abroad. Here’s why you need one:
International Legal Recognition: Many countries require an apostille to accept documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, or court records for legal or business purposes. If you’re planning to get married abroad, an apostille may be necessary for your marriage certificate to be recognized in the foreign country.
Visa and Immigration: When applying for visas or residency abroad, apostilled documents, such as background checks and diplomas, are often required. If you’re planning on adopting dual citizenship, certain documents must be authenticated to ensure your eligibility and expedite the process.
Business Transactions: An apostille ensures contracts and business documents are valid for use internationally, making it easier to conduct business across borders.
Apostille vs. Authentication: What’s the difference
An apostille and authentication are both processes used to verify the legitimacy of documents for international use, but they differ depending on the destination country.
An apostille is a certification issued by the U.S. Department of State (for federal documents). It is attached to the document to authenticate the signature, seal, or stamp; this certification ensures the document is recognized in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
On the other hand, authentication is required for countries that are not part of the Hague Convention. This process also involves verification by the Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State, followed by further legalization by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
Notary is not needed on federal documents.
Once the apostille or authentication is completed, the document must be submitted to a lawyer or directly to the foreign authorities for legal, business, or personal matters abroad.
Things to Know About the U.S. Department of State Authentication Office:
Operating Days: The Authentication Office is open Monday through Thursday only. Fridays are not available for document drop-offs or submissions.
Document Limit: The office allows up to 15 documents per day for processing.
Holiday Closures: The office is closed on state and federal holidays, which can extend processing timelines. Be sure to plan accordingly if your documents are time-sensitive.
- Separate Addresses for Walk-ins and Mail: If you’re mailing your documents, the address is different from the walk-in location. Make sure to use the correct one to avoid delays.
Our Process:
- First Contact: Reach out to us to discuss your document, whether you need a quote, have questions, or need assistance with the apostille or authentication process.
- Document Submission: Once we confirm the details, we will take your document to the U.S. Department of State for authentication or apostille certification.
- Document Pickup: After the certification process is complete, we will pick up the document from the Department of State.
- Scanning Services: If you need scans of the certified document, we will provide them upon request.
- Shipping: We will then ship the document to its destination via USPS, FedEx, or DHL International, whether it’s being sent to another country, your lawyer, or any other location you specify.
Why Choose Our Walk-In Courier Service?
Our walk-in service eliminates the need to mail your documents to the U.S. Department of State and wait for their lengthy processing times. Instead, our team handles the process for you, personally handling the submission to ensure speed and reliability.
Here’s what sets our service apart:
Fast Turnaround: Your documents are ready in just 9-12 business days, compared to the typical 4-week processing time for mail-in requests.
Hassle-Free: We manage the entire walk-in process, saving you the time and effort of navigating complex procedures.
Secure Handling: With our professional and reliable courier service, your documents are in safe hands every step of the way.
Here are some examples of federal documents that can receive an apostille certificate:
- FBI background checks
- Court documents issued by federal courts (previously a certified by the US prominent of justice) (i.e. District Court name change)
- Naturalization certificate
- Immigration records
- Certificate of citizenship
- Health certificates
- Medical examination records
- NIH research certificate
- FDA certificate (i.e. export certificates for pharmaceutical, medical devices)
- Phytosanitary Certificates
- Animal Health Certificates
- Certificates for Export of Animal Products Organic Certificates
- Certified copies of tax returns
- Income verification letter
- Certificate of status (form 6166)
Countries that Require an Apostille Certificate:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China,
- Hong Kong &
- Macao
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Korea, Republic of
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malawi
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova,
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niue
- North Macedonia, Republic of
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom of Great Britain
- and Northern Ireland
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
Countries that Require an Authentication Certificate:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Chile
- Congo Republic
- Congo Democratic
- Ivory Coast
- Cuba
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos Faso
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Zimbabwe
- Qatar
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Thailand
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Uganda
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
