Washington, D.C. Apostille Services

We review your Washington, D.C. documents, file them with the DC Office of the Secretary, and send them back to you by tracked shipping. Order online from anywhere in the U.S. No office visit needed.

From $360 per document · Washington, D.C. state fee included

Book Washington, D.C. apostille Call or text (914) 639-6280

Trilogy Notary Services is a private document services company, not a government agency. The apostille is issued by the DC Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA).

Issuing office: DC Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)Official page
Government fee: $15 per documentIncluded in our price
Hague Convention countries: Apostille
Non-Hague countries: Foreign Certificate
The state accepts requests by: walk-in, mail and third-party drop-off
Published processing time: Walk-in: completed within 30 minutes or less depending on volume. Mail: returned within five business days after receipt of a completed request.As listed by the office on October 29, 2026

Documents Washington, D.C. can apostille

Documents notarized by a DC notary public
Certified documents issued or signed by a DC government agency (e.g., DC birth certificates, DC Public School diplomas, MPD police clearances)
Certified copies of DC Superior Court documents (e.g., marriage certificates, divorce decrees)
Copies of documents (e.g., diplomas, transcripts, passport copies) notarized by a DC notary

The issuing state is what matters, not where you live now. A document issued or notarized in another state goes to that state's office, and documents from federal agencies go to the U.S. Department of State through our federal apostille service.

Washington, D.C. requirements to check before you book

Documents must be notarized by a DC notary or issued/certified by a DC government agency; out-of-state notarized documents go to the state where the notary is commissioned.Source
Vital records and DC Superior Court documents must be certified copies from the issuing DC agency; photocopies are not authenticated.Source
Mail requests require the Mail In Service Request Notification Form submitted before mailing, a hard copy of the request form, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.Source
Walk-in requests require a completed Authentication Request Form.Source

Good to know

Foreign Certificate documents (non-Hague countries) must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
Documents for use in Guam or Puerto Rico do not require authentication.
Federal documents such as FBI background checks go to the U.S. Department of State.
ONCA does not notarize documents and does not verify document contents.

About our Washington, D.C. apostille service

Washington DC apostille and authentication service handles documents issued by District of Columbia authorities, including DC Superior Court records, birth and marriage certificates, university credentials, and corporate filings from the DC Recorder of Deeds. Trilogy Notary Services LLC reviews the file, arranges notarization, and manages the certification steps required by the District and, where applicable, the U.S. Department of State. Clients nationwide can send documents by mail.

How it works

Book onlineChoose the option that matches your document and destination, then tell us the document type, the country where it will be used, and your deadline.
We review your document firstBefore anything is filed, we check it against the Washington, D.C. requirements on this page. If a step is missing, such as a notarization or a certified copy, we tell you what's needed before we file.
Send your original or meet a notaryWe send mailing instructions after you book. If your document still needs to be signed and notarized, one of our mobile notaries can meet you, or you can use remote online notarization where it's accepted.
We file and track itWe submit your request to the DC Office of the Secretary with the government fee and follow it until the office releases it.
We ship it backYour documents come back by tracked shipping. If your destination also needs embassy legalization or a certified translation, we can handle that next.

Pricing

$360 per document.

Prices include the Washington, D.C. state fee, courier filing, return shipping, and handling. Sales tax is added at checkout where it applies, and any deposit is shown before you pay. If you have more than one document, tell us the count when you book and we'll confirm your total.

Government processing times are set by the issuing office and change during the year. We don't promise a delivery date that depends on a government office, and we'll tell you the current timing when we review your order.

Book Washington, D.C. apostille

Common questions

How much does a Washington, D.C. apostille cost through Trilogy?

Our Washington, D.C. apostille service starts at $360 per document. That price includes the Washington, D.C. government fee of $15 per document, plus courier filing, return shipping, and handling. Sales tax, if it applies, and any deposit are shown at checkout before you pay.

Who issues apostilles in Washington, D.C.?

The DC Office of the Secretary, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA). Trilogy Notary Services is a private document services company: we prepare and submit your request and track it, but the apostille itself is issued by the state office.

What does Washington, D.C. require before it will apostille a document?

Documents must be notarized by a DC notary or issued/certified by a DC government agency; out-of-state notarized documents go to the state where the notary is commissioned. Vital records and DC Superior Court documents must be certified copies from the issuing DC agency; photocopies are not authenticated. We check for these before anything is filed.

Can Washington, D.C. apostille an FBI background check or another federal document?

No. Documents issued and signed by a federal agency, such as an FBI background check, are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not by the DC Office of the Secretary. We handle those through our federal apostille service.

What if my destination country is not in the Hague Apostille Convention?

For non-Hague countries, Washington, D.C. issues this instead of a standard apostille: Foreign Certificate. Many non-Hague countries then require embassy or consulate legalization, which we handle through our embassy legalization service. Tell us the destination country when you book.

How long does a Washington, D.C. apostille take?

As published by the state when we checked on October 29, 2026: Walk-in: completed within 30 minutes or less depending on volume. Mail: returned within five business days after receipt of a completed request. Add time for document preparation and shipping both ways. Government processing times change and are outside our control, so we don't promise a delivery date.

Working with Trilogy

Nationwide, by appointmentBased in Westchester County, NY, we serve clients in all 50 states and U.S. territories through a network of commissioned, insured notaries. We don't have a walk-in office.

Ask before you payNot sure your document qualifies? Call or text (914) 639-6280 or email [email protected]. We're available Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM ET.

Privacy and termsQuestions about how we handle your documents and personal information? See our privacy policy and terms and conditions.

Related services

Federal apostillePassports, naturalization records, IRS, SSA, VA, DD-214 and other federal documents.FBI background check apostilleIdentity History Summary for visas, jobs, and residency abroad.Embassy legalizationFor countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention.Certified translationWhen the receiving country needs your document in another language.

Document issued in a different state?

Sources

The Washington, D.C. requirements, fees, and processing times on this page come from these official sources, checked on October 29, 2026. Rules change, so we confirm current requirements when we review your order. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].