Being a resident of Washington DC can be very confusing on a bureaucratic level. Because you’re technically not a part of Virginia or Maryland, you can’t go to Richmond or Annapolis, respectively, to request state services like Apostille certification if the documents requiring it were issued in DC. Fortunately, you’re also closer than the rest of the country in having both state-issued and federally-issued certification within just a few miles of each other.

What exactly is a Washington DC Apostille? When it comes time to travel and you need to carry certain documents with you, including articles of incorporation, birth certificates, and university diplomas, the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications through the Office of the Secretary in DC provides Apostille certification to have these documents recognized by foreign governments. One common reason is documents this may be necessary is for work visa applications; some countries request federal criminal background checks to be submitted along with your application to work abroad, and these need to be given Apostille certification to be accepted.

However, though criminal background checks are issued in Washington DC by the FBI, an Apostille through the Office of the Secretary is not acceptable because such documents are federally issued. In this case, an Apostille must be processed through the Secretary of State.

Confused yet? You’re not alone. Apostille certification requires a series of paperwork in order to successfully authenticate any document. This process can be tiring or daunting for some travelers, which may result in the application being rejected and their trip being delayed.

A criminal background check through the mail can take a few up to several weeks to process by the FBI, and then comes the additional time for the Apostille. By the same token, mailing in a passport renewal can take roughly the same amount of time. Both these documents may be necessary to send to a consulate to apply for a visa. Added up, this can potentially cost a traveler 2-4 months in bureaucratic limbo, assuming there are no missing documents or unexpected delays.

Apostille Stamp in Washington DC

Do you want to apostille legal or business documents for international use? Our experts know just what to do to ensure that you get your stamp in as few as 6 days. How does that sound? But first things first, let’s cover the Washington DC apostille guidelines to ensure that you don’t encounter delays on the road.

If you want to apostille vital records (e.g., birth and death certificates), you must present their certified copies. For school records, please provide notarized copies of the same bearing a school seal. If you have questions about other legal and business documents, do not hesitate to reach out to us, and we’ll be right on it!

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Apostille Services in Washington DC

That’s where Travel Visa Pro in Washington steps in. Whether you need Apostille certification for a visa application or otherwise, TVP can help with any number of documents, including diplomas, marriage certificates, birth certificates, business agreements, and criminal background checks. Why should you have to dash across the city for passport photos, locally-issued Apostille certification, federally-issued Apostille certification, and visa applications at the nearest embassy when everything can be finished in one place?

Travel Visa Pro’s DC office has travel experts with over forty years of experience getting clients the travel documents they need in the time they need. Even if you’re not sure if you need an Apostille for your visa application, take the time to talk to one of our staff; they’ll walk you through the process and do what’s right for you to travel abroad safely and confidently.

Apostille for Specific Documents

FBI Background Check
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Certificate of Naturalization
Death Certificate
IRS Form 6166
Certificate of Good Standing
Certificate of Incorporation
Social Security Letter
Divorce Certificate / Decree
Single Status Affidavit
Diploma
Power of Attorney
Criminal Record Check
Identity Documents or Passports
Divorce Decree
Notarized Bank Statement

FAQ

How to Get an Apostille Stamp in Washington DC?

To get an Apostille Stamp in Washington DC, you have to submit an official application to the governmental office. The Secretary of DC will provide the Apostille for your documents once they are processed in the Secretary of DC office. The simplest option would be to contact one of Travel Visa Pro representatives.

How to Apostille a Document in Washington DC?

First, you will gather the required notarized documents you wish to get authenticated in Washington DC. Next, the documents will go through the Secretary of DC’s office for processing. After this, the Secretary of DC will provide the Apostille for your documents. Alternatively, Travel Visa Pro could help with the process.

Where to Apostille Documents in Washington DC?

The office of the Secretary of DC is where you can obtain the Apostille for the documents you need. Travel Visa Pro Washington office can provide document authentication and Apostille services.

Our Washington office is located: