Washington apostille services.
Get Washington documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Washington Secretary of State for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Washington.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Washington, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a Washington document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Washington, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State's Apostilles Program, with mail service in Olympia and same-day counters in Tumwater and Cheney.
Washington issues a single “universal certificate” that works as an apostille or an authentication, and it can move fast — standard mail runs about a week to ten days, expedited two to three. The common rejection is a vital record that isn't an original state or county certified copy.
We prepare, submit, and track your Washington apostille from start to finish — routing it standard, expedited, or same-day to hit your deadline — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Washington.
One partner for every Washington document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
Washington requirements
What Washington documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Washington. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Vital records must be an original certified copy
A Washington birth or death certificate must be an original, unaltered certified copy from a Washington government office — the state Department of Health's Center for Vital Statistics or the county health department, and marriage certificates from the county auditor. A hospital keepsake or photocopy is rejected, and an out-of-state record must be apostilled by its home state. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to the state
Washington notaries are registered with the state, so a document notarized by a Washington notary goes directly to the Secretary of State — no county step — as long as the notarial certificate is complete and the stamp matches the notary's registered name. We notarize your document correctly for you.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Existence
Washington's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Existence from the Secretary of State's Corporations Division. Because a corporate apostille runs through both the Corporations Division and the Apostilles program, there are two departments involved. We handle the whole sequence for you.
Documents we apostille in Washington
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in Washington to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Washington.
- 1
Tell us your Washington document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Washington Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
- 2
Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Washington document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
- 3
We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Washington Secretary of State for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
- 4
Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Washington document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Washington
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Washington — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Washington apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Washington?+
It depends on the document, the issuing authority, and how fast you need it — Washington offers standard, expedited, and same-day service tiers. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
How long does a Washington apostille take?+
Standard mail runs about 7 to 10 business days, expedited about 2 to 3 business days, and the Tumwater and Cheney counters offer same-day service. We route your document standard, expedited, or same-day to hit your deadline.
Do Washington birth certificates need anything special?+
Yes. A Washington birth or death certificate must be an original certified copy from a Washington government office — the state Department of Health's Center for Vital Statistics or the county health department (marriage certificates come from the county auditor). A hospital keepsake or photocopy is rejected. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Does a Washington notarized document need a county step?+
No. Washington notaries are registered with the state, so a notarized document goes straight to the Secretary of State — as long as the notarial certificate is complete and the stamp matches the notary's registered name. We notarize your document correctly for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Washington?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by the Washington Secretary of State — even if you live in Washington. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a Washington apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve all of Washington — Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue, and beyond — by secure, tracked mail, and you're welcome at either of our two San Diego walk-in offices.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your Washington apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.