Is a DC apostille the same as a federal apostille?

No. The DC Office of the Secretary apostilles documents issued within the District of Columbia (DC notaries, DC vital records). FEDERAL documents — like FBI background checks — are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, a separate office. See our federal page.

Where do I get a DC apostille?

The DC Office of the Secretary's Authentications office handles District documents, by mail or in person in Washington, DC.

South · DC

The District

How to get an apostille in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia, apostilles are issued by the DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a District of Columbia apostille looks like.

Capital: —
Governor (2026): Muriel Bowser (Mayor)
State flower: American Beauty Rose
State bird: Wood Thrush

Apostille signed by DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles)

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard District of Columbia process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in District of Columbia

01
Confirm the document is issued in the District of Columbia or notarized by a DC notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the DC Office of the Secretary authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For DC vital records, obtain a certified copy from the DC Vital Records Division (Department of Health).
04
Complete the authentication request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive your apostille or certificate of authentication.

District of Columbia apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles)
State fee	$15 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available in Washington, DC.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the DC Office of the Secretary, Authentications, in Washington, DC (verify the current address online). Note: documents issued by FEDERAL agencies (FBI checks, federal court records) go to the U.S. Department of State, not the DC Office of the Secretary.

Source: DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles) — https://os.dc.gov/service/authenticationsDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in District of Columbia

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from the state vital-records office)
Divorce decrees and court orders (certified by the clerk of court)
Powers of attorney and affidavits (signed before a notary)
Single-status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
Diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates
Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, good-standing certificates, board resolutions
Commercial and export documents

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by District of Columbia.

Specimen

What a District of Columbia apostille looks like

A District of Columbia apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles) as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles)
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for District of Columbia. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

District of Columbia apostille FAQ

Is a DC apostille the same as a federal apostille?: No. The DC Office of the Secretary apostilles documents issued within the District of Columbia (DC notaries, DC vital records). FEDERAL documents — like FBI background checks — are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, a separate office. See our federal page.
Where do I get a DC apostille?: The DC Office of the Secretary's Authentications office handles District documents, by mail or in person in Washington, DC.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the District of Columbia apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the DC Office of the Secretary — Authentications (Apostilles) via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

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