The federal channel: US Department of State
Federal documents — FBI background checks, IRS letters, naturalization certificates, FDA and USDA certificates, and more — are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications, at $20 per document. No state can apostille them. Mail processing takes about 5+ weeks; a Washington, DC walk-in takes 2–3 weeks.
| Office | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications |
|---|---|
| Fee | $20 per document |
| Form | DS-4194 |
| Mail to | U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, 44132 Mercure Circle, PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206 |
| Walk-in | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 |
| Mail time | 5+ weeks |
| Walk-in time | 2–3 weeks |
Check your federal document's exact steps
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The #1 mistake: sending a federal document to a state
This is the single most common error. People assume every document goes to the Secretary of State. Federal documents do not. If you mail an FBI check to a state office, it comes back unprocessed and you lose weeks. When in doubt, run thePathway Checker — it routes federal documents automatically.
Federal documents we cover
| FBI background check (Identity History Summary) | The FBI Identity History Summary, authenticated only by the US Department of State. |
| Certificate of Naturalization / Citizenship | A naturalization or citizenship certificate authenticated federally, with copying restrictions. |
| IRS documents (Form 6166, letters) | IRS Form 6166 US tax-residency certificates and letters, authenticated federally. |
| Social Security Administration letters | SSA benefit-verification letters authenticated federally for use abroad. |
| FDA certificates | FDA export certificates (CFG, Certificate of Free Sale) authenticated federally. |
| USDA / APHIS documents | USDA-APHIS export and animal-health certificates authenticated federally. |
| Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240) | The FS-240 Consular Report of Birth Abroad, authenticated federally. |
| USPTO documents | Certified USPTO patent and trademark records authenticated federally. |
Frequently asked questions
＋Can a state apostille an FBI background check?
No. FBI background checks are federal documents. No Secretary of State can apostille them — they go only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications, at $20 per document. Sending a federal document to a state is the most common mistake and causes an automatic rejection.
＋How long does the federal channel take?
Mail processing runs about 5+ weeks. A walk-in drop-off in Washington, DC takes about 2–3 weeks. Same-day appointments are reserved for documented emergencies with foreign travel inside two weeks.
＋What form do I need for the federal channel?
You submit Form DS-4194 with your federal document and a $20 fee per document. Include a return envelope. The office mails your apostille or authentication certificate back to you.
＋What if my destination country is not a Hague member?
The same office issues an authentication certificate (not an apostille), which you then legalize at the destination country's embassy. Use the Country Checker to see the exact chain.
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications (travel.state.gov)(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.