Apostille San Francisco
Federal
Apostille
Federal documents — FBI background checks, USCIS records, federal court orders — are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, not the California Secretary of State. We manage the full federal route from our San Francisco office, so your document reaches the right authority the first time.
What a Federal Apostille Is
An apostille is a certificate that makes a public document valid for use in another country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention. The catch is which authority issues it. Documents issued by the U.S. federal government are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. — never by a state office.
This is the single most common and most costly mistake we see: a federal document, most often an FBI background check, sent to the California Secretary of State and rejected. We confirm the correct route up front and handle the federal filing for you.
Federal vs. California — Know the Difference
Federal Documents (This Page)
Issued by a U.S. federal agency. Authenticated only by the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. The California SOS cannot apostille these.
Documents: FBI Identity History Summary · USCIS records · Federal court orders · Naturalization-related documents · Social Security Administration records
California Documents
Issued by California state or county officials, or notarized in California. These go through the California Secretary of State, not the federal route.
Documents: Birth · Death · Marriage certificates · Court records · Diplomas (notarized copy statement first) · Notarized affidavits
California documents that need notarizing first?
Federal documents skip notarization, but California paperwork — powers of attorney, affidavits, notarized copy statements for diplomas — must be notarized before its apostille. Apostille San Francisco is a proud partner of Sacramento Notary Co — a trusted Sacramento mobile notary since 2017 — for that first step.
Federal Documents We Handle
| Document | Route |
|---|---|
FBI Background Check | Federal |
USCIS Documents | Federal |
Federal Court Orders | Federal |
Social Security Records | Federal |
Naturalization Documents | Federal |
Other Federal Records | Federal |
How the Federal Apostille Process Works
Document Check — $45
We confirm your document is genuinely federal, verify it is in the correct authenticated form, and check your destination country’s requirements before anything is filed. $20 applied toward your apostille.
Same dayPrepare the Federal Document
Federal documents must be obtained correctly first. An FBI Identity History Summary, for example, must bear the FBI watermark and the signature of an FBI division official, and be recent enough for your destination country — many require one issued within 3–6 months.
VariesFile with the U.S. Department of State
We submit your document to the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. — the only office authorized to apostille federal documents.
Day of filingFederal Authentication Issued
The Office of Authentications attaches the apostille certificate. The government authentication fee is $20 per document. Processing times are set by the Department of State and usually run 5–7 weeks by mail.
Gov’t timelineDocument Returned
Your apostilled document is returned by tracked courier or forwarded directly to your destination, ready for international use.
On completionWhy Federal Apostilles Get Rejected
Filed With the California SOS
The most common error. The California Secretary of State cannot authenticate federal documents. An FBI check filed there will be returned unprocessed.
FBI Check Too Old
Many countries require a background check issued within the last 3–6 months. An older report is often refused at the destination, even after it is apostilled.
Wrong Form of the Document
The Department of State authenticates the properly issued federal document with its seal — not an uncertified copy or a printout that lacks the required federal certification.
Destination Isn’t a Hague Country
Countries outside the Hague Convention need a full legalization chain — federal authentication plus embassy or consulate legalization — not a simple apostille.
Federal Apostille Pricing
Federal handling depends on document type, destination country, and how quickly you need it. Start with the $45 Document Check or call (415) 439-0289 for a full federal quote — we confirm every cost before any document is filed.
We confirm the correct route up front and handle the federal filing for you.
$45 Document Check, $20 applied toward your apostille. Government fee $20 per document. We confirm every cost before any document is filed.
Federal Apostille FAQ
01What is a federal apostille and who issues it?
02Can the California Secretary of State apostille my FBI background check?
03How do I get my FBI background check ready for apostille?
04How long does a federal apostille take?
05My destination country isn’t in the Hague Convention. What then?
06How much does a federal apostille cost?
Related Pages & Document Guides
Apostille San Francisco · CA SOS Process · FBI Background Check · $45 Document Check · FAQ · Contact
We are not the U.S. Department of State and do not issue apostilles; we prepare and submit your documents to the issuing authority.