State documents can be processed as fast as 24 hours. Federal apostilles take 6–14 business days and cannot be expedited. Plan accordingly.
Processing windows are measured in business hours. Shipping time is separate from processing. The 24-hour option does not include shipping time.
Ideal for non-urgent requests with flexible deadlines. Full document review and tracked shipping included.
Faster turnaround for time-sensitive needs. Priority review queue with direct tracked shipment on completion.
Fastest available processing. Same-day review and submission. Best for urgent immigration, travel, or legal deadlines.
State documents are processed through the Secretary of State; federal documents go through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications. Federal takes significantly longer.
Vital records, notarized documents, and corporate filings each follow different processing paths with varying verification requirements.
Hague-participating countries require an apostille; non-participating countries require an authentication certificate with additional embassy or consulate steps.
True Copy requests are typically faster and don't require mailing originals. Some requests require the original document or a newly issued certified copy, adding time.
Federal processing is handled by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. These timelines are not controlled at the state level and cannot be expedited.
Federal apostilles take 6–14 business days and cannot be expedited regardless of the tier you select. Our processing tier pricing applies to state documents only. Plan well ahead if your deadline involves a federal document.
Factor both processing time and shipping time into your deadline planning. Shipping runs concurrently and is separate from processing.
Unclear or cropped scans are the top cause of state processing delays. Every edge, seal, and stamp must be fully visible.
Include every page of your document — front and back where applicable. Missing pages halt processing immediately.
Apostilles are for international use only — not domestic. The destination country determines certificate type and routing.
The most common routing mistake is submitting a federal document as a state document. We verify this during our review, but confirming upfront speeds the process.