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How to obtain an Apostille or Certification

What is an Apostille?

Please Read!  Apostille certificates are issued by a state government only for documents which have been signed by a government official (or a Notary Public) of that same state. You cannot request a Washington Apostille on your documents if your documents have been signed by a government official in Oregon for example. You would need to obtain an Oregon Apostille from the government of Oregon instead.

For document types, and where to obtain them, please see APOSTILLE DOCUMENT GUIDELINES.

In order to obtain an apostille you must send the following information:

Original notarized document to be authenticated or a certified copy to be authenticated that includes the original certification.

  • Fee is $15.00 per document (a document can be more than one page). Make check or money order payable to: Secretary of State.
  • Apostille or Certificate of Authentication Request Form, which includes:
    • The name of the country requesting documents. (Countries require different certifications and the document cannot be certified without this information.);
    • A daytime phone number for possible questions; and
    • Information on where the documents should be mailed after processing.

NEED YOUR APOSTILLE IN A HURRY? As of October 1, 2013 you will be able to expedite your order for an additional $50, similar to other expedited services. This will allow same day processing if you bring the documents to our office. If you send the documents by mail for expedited service they will be processed within 2 business days. Non expedited requests are processed in the order received, typically within 5 to 7 business days.

Vital Records Document:

If the document is a vital records document (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license, or divorce decree, etc.), then you must contact the County in which the document originated or the State Department of Health and request a certified copy of that document; then submit the certified copy to the Office of the Secretary of State with the filing fee of $15.00 per document made payable to the Office of the Secretary of State.

NOTICE: We do not process FBI Clearance letters. They can only be processed at the US Department of State, in Washington DC.

NOTE: Current requests are averaging 5 to 7 business days for completion.

Once you have gathered the necessary documents you may visit us in person or mail it to:

Corporations Division
Apostille and Certificate Program
801 Capitol Way South
PO Box 40228
OLYMPIA WA 98504-0228