Washington, D.C. apostille services.
Get Washington, D.C. documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the D.C. Office of the Secretary (ONCA) 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, D.C..
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Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Washington, D.C., handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Washington, D.C., there are two different authentication offices in the same city, and choosing the right one is what matters most: documents signed by a D.C. notary or issued by a D.C. agency are apostilled by the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia (ONCA), while federal documents are handled by the U.S. Department of State.
That split is where most D.C. filings go wrong. An FBI background check or other federal document can't be apostilled by the District — it must go to the U.S. Department of State's authentications office. A D.C. birth certificate, a locally notarized power of attorney, or a D.C. court record goes to ONCA. Who signed or issued the document decides the office.
We prepare, submit, and track your D.C. apostille from start to finish — routing each document to ONCA or the U.S. Department of State as appropriate — in person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in the D.C. area.
One partner for every Washington, D.C. 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, D.C. requirements
What Washington, D.C. documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Washington, D.C.. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Federal vs. District — the split that trips people up
In D.C., who issued the document decides the office. An FBI background check, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or any federal-agency document is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State — not by the District. A D.C.-notarized document or a D.C. agency record goes to ONCA. We route each document to the correct office so it isn't rejected.
Vital records need the certified D.C. Health copy
A D.C. birth or death certificate must be the certified copy issued by the DC Health Vital Records Division — a notarized photocopy is rejected. Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and single-status documents are D.C. Superior Court records and must be the certified court copy, issued with its triple seal. We obtain the correct certified copy for you.
Notarized documents go straight to ONCA
A document notarized by a commissioned D.C. notary goes directly to ONCA — there's no separate court step. A D.C. government-agency document, by contrast, must be the original signed by the department head and may not be notarized. We prepare and submit it correctly for you.
Corporate records — the Certificate of Good Standing
The District's proof of good standing is the Certificate of Good Standing, issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's Corporations Division. Because it's a D.C. agency document, ONCA apostilles it directly. We obtain it and apostille it together.
Documents we apostille in Washington, D.C.
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, D.C. to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Washington, D.C..
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Tell us your Washington, D.C. document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the D.C. Office of the Secretary (ONCA) or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Washington, D.C. document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the D.C. Office of the Secretary (ONCA) for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Washington, D.C. document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Washington, D.C.
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Washington, D.C. — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Washington, D.C. apostille questions, answered.
How much does a D.C. apostille cost?+
It depends on the document and, above all, which office it belongs to — the District's ONCA or the U.S. Department of State. Sending it to the wrong one is the costly mistake we prevent. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Where does my FBI background check get apostilled in D.C.?+
At the U.S. Department of State, not the District. This is the D.C. trap: federal documents like FBI checks are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State's authentications office, while D.C.-notarized or D.C. agency documents go to the Office of the Secretary (ONCA). We route each to the right office.
How do I apostille a D.C. birth or marriage certificate?+
A D.C. birth or death certificate must be the certified copy from the DC Health Vital Records Division. Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and single-status documents are D.C. Superior Court records and must be the certified court copy with its triple seal. We obtain the correct certified copy for you.
Does a D.C. notarized document need a court step?+
No. A document notarized by a commissioned D.C. notary goes directly to ONCA. A D.C. government-agency document, by contrast, must be the original signed by the department head and may not be notarized. We prepare and submit it correctly for you.
How do I apostille a D.C. Certificate of Good Standing?+
The District's Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection's Corporations Division. Because it's a D.C. agency document, ONCA apostilles it directly. We obtain it and apostille it together.
Can I get a D.C. apostille from San Diego?+
Yes. We serve the whole D.C. area — Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, 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, D.C. apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.