When your document bears the seal of a U.S. federal agency, such as the Department of State, FBI, or Department of Homeland Security, it cannot receive a state-level apostille. Instead, these documents must go through a federal authentication process — often referred to as a “federal apostille.”
This ensures that your document, whether a Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (as shown above), FBI background check, or USDA export certificate, is fully recognized in foreign countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.
At Orange County Apostille, we streamline this process by submitting your federal documents directly to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C., and returning them to you with the official apostille certificate attached — ready for legal use abroad.
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What Is a Federal Apostille?
A federal apostille is a certification issued by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., verifying the authenticity of:
- A federal seal or signature (e.g., Department of State, FBI, IRS, USDA)
- The authority of the officer who signed or issued the document
Once authenticated, the document becomes legally valid for use in any Hague Convention country, such as South Korea, France, Italy, Mexico, and Japan.
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Examples of Federal Documents Requiring Apostille
- Reports of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (like the one issued by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea, signed by Consular Associate Denis Pesut)
- FBI Identity History Summaries (Background Checks)
- USDA or FDA Export Certificates
- Certificates of Free Sale
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Documents
- Naturalization or Citizenship Records
- IRS Certification Letters
- U.S. Court Documents (Federal Jurisdiction)
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Step-by-Step: How We Apostille Federal Documents
1. Document Review
We examine your document to confirm it was issued by a federal authority, not a state or county agency.
2. Authentication Request Form
We complete and submit the Form DS-4194 (“Request for Authentications Service”) to the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Authentications.
3. Submission to the U.S. Department of State
Your documents are hand-delivered or couriered to:
Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
4. Federal Apostille Issuance
The Department verifies the federal seal and attaches the apostille — a gold-embossed certification signed on behalf of the Secretary of State.
5. Secure Return
We return your document with the apostille certificate attached — ready for submission to the foreign country.
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How Federal Apostilles Differ from State Apostilles
| Feature | State Apostille | Federal Apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Issued By | State Secretary of State (e.g., California) | U.S. Department of State |
| Used For | Vital records, notarized documents | Federal agency records |
| Location | State capitals | Washington, D.C. |
| Hague Validity | Valid in Hague member countries | Valid in Hague member countries |
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Processing Time
The federal apostille process may take 4–6 weeks depending on volume at the Department of State.
We provide expedited options through our Washington, D.C. processing partners.
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Official Source Example
The uploaded Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (Republic of Korea, issued 04-17-2025) shows:
- The U.S. seal and signature of Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
- A certification from Denis Pesut, Consular Associate This is precisely the type of federal document eligible for apostille authentication through the Department of State.
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Mail-In & Walk-In Service
Mail your documents to our office for secure processing:
Orange County Apostille
17875 Von Karman Ave, Suite 150
Irvine, CA 92614
📞 (949) 614-0350
🌐 https://orangecountyapostille.org
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25 Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a federal apostille? It’s an authentication from the U.S. Department of State verifying a federal signature or seal.
- Who issues federal apostilles? The U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications.
- Can a state issue a federal apostille? No. Only the U.S. Department of State may certify federal documents.
- What is Form DS-4194? The official request form for authentication or apostille of U.S. federal documents.
- Where can I find Form DS-4194? travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/records-and-authentications/authenticate-your-document.html
- Can I apostille an embassy-issued Report of Death? Yes — it’s authenticated through the U.S. Department of State.
- Do I need originals? Yes, only original documents or certified copies issued by the agency.
- How long does it take? Typically 4–6 weeks.
- Can you expedite the process? Yes, through our D.C. courier team.
- Is it valid worldwide? In Hague Convention member countries only.
- What if my document is for a non-Hague country (e.g., UAE)? It must undergo full embassy legalization.
- Is notarization required? Not for federal agency-issued documents.
- Can you process FBI background checks? Yes, including electronic submissions and expedited apostilles.
- Do apostilles expire? The apostille itself does not expire, but the receiving country may require a recent issue date.
- Can a report of death be apostilled for Korea? Yes — South Korea accepts apostilles.
- Can you ship documents internationally? Yes, via FedEx or DHL with tracking.
- Where is the Department of State located? 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
- How do I verify an apostille? Each apostille contains a unique certification number traceable through the issuing authority.
- What payment methods are accepted? Check, money order, or credit card (for DS-4194 submissions).
- Do you assist corporations? Yes — for export, patent, and compliance documentation.
- Can translations be apostilled? Translations must be notarized, then authenticated.
- What countries require apostille certification? See the list at https://travel.state.gov.
- Can I drop off in person? Yes — by appointment at our Irvine office.
- Do you handle returned rejected applications? Yes — we review and resubmit with corrections.
- Are digital (PDF) apostilles accepted? The Department of State issues only paper apostilles at this time.
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25 Helpful Government Backlinks
- U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications
- Form DS-4194 Download
- Hague Apostille Convention Countries
- U.S. Embassy in Seoul – Consular Reports of Death
- U.S. Department of Justice – FBI Background Check
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Export Certificates
- U.S. Department of Agriculture – APHIS Certification
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Certificates
- National Archives and Records Administration
- U.S. Courts – Federal Records
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
- U.S. Embassy Legalization Guidance
- U.S. Department of Commerce – Trade Documents
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Education – Degree Verification
- Social Security Administration – Records Requests
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Department of Treasury
- U.S. Department of Labor – Foreign Labor Certification
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. State Department – Passport Services
- U.S. Department of State – Contact Information
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Need Federal Apostille Assistance?
Whether you’re authenticating a U.S. Department of State Report of Death, FBI check, or corporate document, we’ll ensure your paperwork is processed correctly, securely, and quickly.
📩 Email us: [email protected]