How processing time works
Processing time begins once your documents physically arrive at our receiving address, not on the day you place your order or the day you drop a package in the mail. From that point, we prepare your documents and hand deliver them to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, DC. Review our document requirements before you ship, since a document that is not ready can add time back onto the process.
Standard versus Express
We offer two service levels, and the difference between them is how your document reaches the U.S. Department of State. See pricing for current rates and what is included with each option.
Standard, about 5 to 6 weeks
We submit your document by mail to the Department of State, Office of Authentications. Mail requests are handled in the order received, alongside a large volume of mailed submissions from around the country, which is why this option takes longer.
Express, about 7 to 10 business days
A member of our team hand-delivers your document in person to the Department of State in Washington, DC. Hand delivery is treated differently than a mailed submission and moves through the office much faster, which is why most Express orders are ready in about a week once the documents reach us. See how it works for the full path a document takes.
Shipping time is separate, and outside our control
The processing times above cover only the federal review itself. Shipping your original document to us, and shipping it back to you once it is apostilled or authenticated, adds carrier transit time on both ends. We use tracked shipping in both directions, and faster carrier options can shorten transit time, but once a package is in a carrier's hands, transit time is set by that carrier and is outside of our control. Build carrier transit time into your planning in addition to the federal processing window above.
Business days only
All processing time estimates on this page are in business days. The Department of State does not process requests on weekends or federal holidays, so a submission that arrives right before a weekend or holiday will begin its processing window on the next business day. Keep this in mind when planning around a deadline, and consider our Express service if your timeline is tight.
Non Hague destinations add embassy legalization time
The processing times above cover the federal step only. If your document is headed to a country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the Department of State issues an authentication certificate instead of an apostille, and you will need a further embassy legalization step once we return your document. That step happens at the destination country's embassy or consulate in the United States, on its own timeline, and is completed by you. Read more on embassy legalization and check whether your destination country is a Hague member on our Hague Convention countries page.