Federal Document Apostille — U.S. Department of State
Not all apostilles come from your state. Documents issued by federal agencies — such as the FBI or federal courts — require a federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
Federal vs State Apostille
State-issued documents (notarized documents, vital records, court filings from state courts) are apostilled by the relevant state authority — in New York, this is the Department of State. Federal documents are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, regardless of where you live.
Documents That Need Federal Apostille
- FBI background check (Identity History Summary)
- Federal court documents and judgments
- Documents certified by federal agencies (e.g., USCIS, SEC, Patent Office)
- Military records
- Documents notarized by a federal notary
FBI Background Check Apostille
FBI background checks are the most common federal apostille request. The FBI issues an Identity History Summary, which must be sent to the U.S. Department of State for apostille. Many countries require this for work permits, residency applications, and immigration proceedings.
U.S. Department of State Process
- Obtain the federal document (e.g., FBI report, federal court order)
- Submit to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications
- Receive the apostilled document for international use
Processing Times
The U.S. Department of State processes apostille requests by mail. Processing times vary and can take several weeks. Expedited service may be available through third-party courier services authorized to hand-deliver to the Office of Authentications.
How NY International Notary Helps
I help clients determine whether their document needs a state or federal apostille, and guide them through the correct process. For New York state documents, I coordinate the full apostille process. For federal documents, I advise on requirements and next steps.