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District of Columbia Apostille (ONCA Document Authentication)

If your document was issued or notarized in the District of Columbia and needs to be used in another country, you will typically need a DC Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or a DC Foreign Certificate (for non-Hague countries). DC apostilles are issued by the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA).

24/7 apostille, notary, legalization, translation $15 DC government fee per document Walk-in 9 AM–1 PM + mail-in option

Issuing authority

DC ONCA (Office of the Secretary)

Authenticates DC signatures.

Eligible docs

DC notary / DC agency / DC Superior Court

Certain records require “triple seal.”

Typical turnaround (mail-in)

~2–3 business days (plus shipping)

Per ONCA guidance.

Payment rules

No cash (mail-in: checks/money orders)

Payable to “DC Treasurer.”

What a DC apostille does

A DC apostille verifies the authenticity of a DC notary public’s commission or a DC public official’s signature/capacity for international use. It does not verify the contents of your document (for example, it does not validate school accreditation, account balances, or personal statements).

24/7 service availability

We provide 24/7 apostille, notary, embassy legalization, and translation services for request intake, document review, preparation, submission coordination, and logistics. Government processing timelines depend on ONCA office hours and acceptance rules.

Which DC documents can be apostilled?

Notarized documents notarized by a District of Columbia commissioned notary public.
DC Department of Health vital records: DC birth and death certificates must be original DC-issued records (ONCA specifies letter-size format).
DC Superior Court records: ONCA indicates marriage certificates and divorce decrees for authentication must be certified copies issued by the US Superior Court for the District of Columbia with the triple seal (and generally may not be notarized).
DC government agency records signed by an authorized head of a DC government agency (where applicable).

Apostille vs. Foreign Certificate (non-Hague)

ONCA issues either an Apostille or a Foreign Certificate depending on where the document will be used. If your destination is a non-Hague country, you may need additional steps after DC authentication (for example, federal authentication and then embassy/consulate legalization). Always confirm the “chain” required by your receiving agency abroad.

Step-by-step process (District of Columbia Apostille)

Use this workflow to prepare a complete submission and avoid common rejection reasons.

Confirm the destination country (required)

DC authentications are for documents intended for use in a foreign country. You must specify the country on the request form. If you are sending to a consulate/embassy, list the country of that mission (per ONCA instructions).

Make sure your document is DC-eligible

Most documents must be notarized by a DC notary or be a certified copy issued by a Government of the District of Columbia agency. Documents from other states must be authenticated in the state where they were issued.

Special rules for DC vital records and court records

ONCA lists specific requirements for DC birth/death certificates and for DC marriage/divorce records (including “triple seal” for certain court-certified records). Confirm your document meets ONCA’s exact format and certification rules before submission.

Complete the Mail-In Request for Authentications form (or prepare for walk-in)

For mail-in requests, use the official ONCA mail-in form and fill it out completely. For in-person service, ONCA indicates no appointment is needed during walk-in hours.

Prepare payment correctly (DC Treasurer)

ONCA lists a $15 fee per document. For mail-in submissions, ONCA indicates only checks or money orders are accepted and no cash is accepted. Payments must be payable to DC Treasurer.

Include your return delivery (mail-in)

ONCA instructs mail-in requestors to include a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope. Your total delivery time depends on the carrier you choose.

Where to send / where to go (ONCA)

Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)

ONCA provides mail-in and in-person authentication services. Always verify the latest instructions and office hours before submitting.

Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)
899 North Capitol Street, NE
Suite 8100
Washington, DC 20002

Official ONCA authentication service page: https://os.dc.gov/service/authentications
Official mail-in form (PDF): Mail-In Request for Authentications

DC government fee, payment rules, and processing notes

Government fees shown below are from ONCA’s published instructions. This page does not list Orange County Apostille service pricing.

Item	Published requirement	Why it matters
Fee	$15 per document	Budget per apostille/foreign certificate requested.
Payee	`DC Treasurer`	Incorrect payees are a common submission issue.
Mail-in payment methods	Checks or money orders only (no cash)	Mail-in packets with cash are not accepted.
Mail-in processing (typical)	~2–3 business days (plus shipping time)	Carrier transit often dominates total turnaround time.
Walk-in service	ONCA indicates walk-in 9 AM–1 PM (no appointment needed)	Useful for time-sensitive DC authentications (arrive early when possible).

What if my document is NOT from DC?

ONCA indicates documents from jurisdictions outside the District of Columbia should be authenticated where they were issued. If you have a federal document (FBI background check, USCIS, etc.), you may need U.S. Department of State authentication instead of (or in addition to) DC authentication.

Common reasons DC apostille submissions get delayed

Not a DC notarization: the notary is not commissioned in DC.
Wrong document type: photocopies instead of certified originals (when required).
Missing destination country on the request form.
Payment errors: incorrect amount, wrong payee, or disallowed payment method for mail-in.
Missing return envelope/label for mail-in requests.
DC court record requirements not met: missing “triple seal” on certain Superior Court certified copies.

Helpful links & related services

Use these official resources to confirm DC requirements and explore related Orange County Apostille service pages.

Frequently Asked Questions (District of Columbia Apostille)

These FAQs reflect ONCA’s published guidance and common DC document scenarios. Always confirm destination-country requirements before submitting.

1) Who issues apostilles for the District of Columbia?

The District’s apostilles/foreign certificates are issued by the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA), part of the DC Office of the Secretary.

2) What is the DC government fee for an apostille?

ONCA publishes a $15 fee per document for authentication (apostille or foreign certificate).

3) Who do I make payment payable to?

ONCA’s guidance states checks and money orders must be payable to “DC Treasurer.”

4) Can I mail in a DC apostille request?

Yes. Use ONCA’s mail-in request form, include payment, and include a prepaid self-addressed return envelope.

5) Does ONCA accept cash by mail?

No. ONCA states no cash is accepted for authentications.

6) What documents are eligible for DC authentication?

Most documents must be notarized by a DC notary public or be a certified copy issued by a Government of the District of Columbia agency.

7) Can DC authenticate a document issued in another state?

Generally no. ONCA indicates out-of-jurisdiction documents should be authenticated where they were issued.

8) Do I need to list the destination country?

Yes. ONCA’s mail-in form requires the foreign country. Requests may not be processed if a country is not entered.

9) What is the typical ONCA mail-in turnaround time?

ONCA indicates mail-in requests are usually turned around in about 2–3 business days, plus shipping time.

10) Can I walk in for DC apostille service?

ONCA indicates in-person authentication is available during walk-in hours (no appointment needed). Arrive early for best results.

11) Does ONCA notarize documents?

No. ONCA states it does not notarize documents. Documents must already be properly notarized by a DC commissioned notary if notarization is required.

12) Do DC birth certificates need special formatting?

ONCA indicates DC birth and death certificates must be original DC-issued records and specifies letter-size paper requirements.

13) Can I notarize a DC marriage certificate instead of getting a certified court copy?

ONCA indicates marriage certificates (and divorce decrees) for authentication must be certified copies issued by DC Superior Court (with “triple seal”), and generally may not be notarized.

14) What is a “triple seal”?

It is a specific certified-copy format used by DC Superior Court for certain records. Always request the exact certified copy type specified by ONCA for international use.

15) What if my destination is a non-Hague country?

You may need additional authentication steps (often federal authentication and then embassy/consulate legalization). Confirm the required chain with your receiving agency and the destination mission.

16) Are federal documents (FBI, USCIS) handled by DC ONCA?

Usually not. Federal documents generally require U.S. Department of State authentication (federal apostille/authentication), not a DC ONCA apostille.

17) Do I need a translation for DC apostille?

DC does not require translation to issue an apostille, but the receiving country/agency may require certified translation.

18) Do you provide translation services?

Yes—Orange County Apostille provides 24/7 translation support and can coordinate certified translations when required by the receiving agency.

19) How do I find a DC notary for a document that must be notarized in DC?

ONCA provides an online “Search for a Notary Public” tool to locate DC notaries and confirm commission status.

20) What’s the best way to avoid delays?

Confirm DC eligibility, include the destination country, use the official mail-in form, pay exactly as instructed to “DC Treasurer,” and include a prepaid return envelope/label for mail-in submissions.

Disclosure: Orange County Apostille is a private service provider (not a government agency). DC rules, fees, addresses, and processing times can change. Always verify the latest instructions using the official DC ONCA links above.