Where do I get an apostille in Washington State?

The Washington Office of the Secretary of State issues apostilles, with in-person service near Olympia (Tumwater) and a mail-in option.

How do I apostille a Washington State birth certificate?

Order a certified copy from the Washington State Department of Health, then submit it to the Secretary of State for the apostille.

West · WA

The Evergreen State

How to get an apostille in Washington

In Washington, apostilles are issued by the Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates. Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Washington apostille looks like.

Capital: Olympia
Governor (2026): Bob Ferguson
State flower: Coast Rhododendron
State bird: American Goldfinch

Apostille signed by Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Washington 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 Washington

01
Confirm the document is Washington-issued or notarized by a Washington notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Washington Secretary of State 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 vital records, obtain a certified copy from the Washington State Department of Health (Center for Health Statistics).
04
Complete the apostille/certificate 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.

Washington apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates
State fee	$15 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–2 weeks; in-person service is available at the Tumwater/Olympia office.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Washington Secretary of State, Apostilles, in Tumwater/Olympia (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates — https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/apostilles-certificatesDraft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Washington

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 Washington.

Specimen

What a Washington apostille looks like

A Washington apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates 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 Washington Office of the Secretary of State — Apostilles & Certificates
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 Washington. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Washington apostille FAQ

Where do I get an apostille in Washington State?: The Washington Office of the Secretary of State issues apostilles, with in-person service near Olympia (Tumwater) and a mail-in option.
How do I apostille a Washington State birth certificate?: Order a certified copy from the Washington State Department of Health, then submit it to the Secretary of State for the apostille.

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

Need it done for you?

Rather not deal with the Washington paperwork yourself?

This guide is free to use. If you’d like a service to prepare, notarize where needed, and submit your documents for you — including federal documents and translations — tell us what you need and we’ll point you to the right help.