Processing Times (State & Federal)
State documents: as fast as 24 hours for eligible requests (business-day turnaround; shipping separate).
Federal documents: Federal apostilles take 7–9 business days and cannot be expedited.
What Affects Turnaround Time
- State vs. federal routing: State documents are processed through the Secretary of State; federal documents go through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications.
- Document type: Vital records, notarized documents, and corporate filings each follow different processing paths.
- Destination country: Hague-participating countries require an apostille; non-participating countries require an authentication certificate.
- True copy vs. original protocol: Some requests can use a properly prepared "true copy" packet; others require the original document or a newly issued certified copy.
State Processing Timelines
Priority Express
As fast as 24 hours (business-day turnaround)
Standard Priority
2–3 business days
Economy Standard
4–6 business days
Processing windows are measured in business hours. The 24-hour option is ideal for urgent deadlines but does not include shipping time.
Common delay causes: Unclear or cropped scans, missing pages, and submitting the wrong document format are the top reasons state processing stalls.
Federal Processing Timelines
Federal processing is handled by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. Their posted guidance emphasizes planning around processing times, as federal timelines are not controlled at the state level.
Federal apostilles take 7–9 business days and cannot be expedited. Federal cannot be treated like state express.
Shipping & Delivery
We ship completed documents directly to you with tracking (domestic and international options available).
Important: Shipping time is separate from processing time. Factor both into your deadline planning.
If your case requires an original or certified copy to be mailed in, we provide exact shipping instructions after review to avoid mis-deliveries and delays.
Timeline Examples
State (24-Hour) + Overnight Shipping
- Processing: ~24 hours (1 business day)
- Shipping: 1 business day (overnight)
- Total: ~2 business days
Federal + International Shipping
- Processing: 7–9 business days (Department of State)
- Shipping: 5–10 business days (international)
- Total: ~2–3 weeks (plan ahead)
How to Avoid Delays
- Upload full-color, uncropped scans of every page
- Ensure all pages are included (front and back where applicable)
- Confirm the destination country is not the U.S. Apostilles are for use abroad.
- Double-check document classification (state vs. federal) before submitting
Ready to get started? We review every submission before processing to prevent delays.
Submit Your RequestRelated Resources
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Processing times are estimates and may vary based on the issuing authority's current capacity. For formal legal advice, consult a qualified professional.