United States
Apostille in the United States
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in the United States, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, documents issued by U.S. federal agencies2 |
| Fee | US$20 (per document, Office of Authentications)3checked 18 October 2026 No fee, according to the office (vital Records Office, issuance or apostille on a document bearing the seal of a U.S. embassy or consulate)2checked 18 October 2026 About €17.77 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | By mail: processed within five weeks from the date received; walk-in drop-off and pick-up: seven business days; emergency appointment: same day as the appointment3checked 18 October 2026 |
| Documents covered | 3 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in the United States
Fill in Form DS-4194 and write the country where the document will be used.3
Include the federal document and check whether it needs an apostille certificate or an authentication certificate.3
If you travel in 5 or more weeks, send the form, the documents and the fee by mail.3
If you travel in 2 to 3 weeks, drop off and pick up the request at the office as a walk-in.3
An appointment is only offered to people travelling within two weeks because an immediate family member abroad has a life-or-death emergency.3
By mail, pay by check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of State; in person, pay by credit card, debit card or contactless payment, as cash, check and money order are not accepted.3
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents issued by U.S. federal agencies2
- Consular Reports of Birth, Death and Marriage (Vital Records Section)2
- Documents issued by U.S. federal courts (apostilled by the court clerks)2
More about these documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, court judgment.
Contacts
Who to contact in the United States
- Apostille officeU.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications2Documents issued by U.S. federal agencies
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in the United States
A document issued in the United States
The apostille comes from the United States, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with the United States.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in the United States
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in the United States. The United States accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
The Department of State says that under federal law it cannot refund the authentications fee.3
Note: Rule
The fee is charged per document, not per page.4
Note: Rule
Documents issued by a U.S. state are apostilled by that state's designated authority, generally the Secretary of State, not by the Department of State.2
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in United States
Does United States accept apostilles?
Yes. United States has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 15 October 1981, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in United States?
U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications (documents issued by U.S. federal agencies).
How much does an apostille cost in United States?
US$20 (per document, Office of Authentications). No fee, according to the office (vital Records Office, issuance or apostille on a document bearing the seal of a U.S. embassy or consulate). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in United States?
The office says: By mail: processed within five weeks from the date received; walk-in drop-off and pick-up: seven business days; emergency appointment: same day as the appointment.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- United States of America - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Requesting Authentication Services
- Request for Authentications Service (DS-4194)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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