Criminal Background Check Apostille in Washington

Washington Apostille Requirements

• Authority: Washington Secretary of State
• Office Location: Olympia
• State Fee: $15
• Important Rule: Same day service available for walk-ins.

What Is a Criminal Background Check Apostille?

An apostille is a standardized international document authentication established by the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike standard document certification, an apostille is recognized internationally — meaning your Criminal Background Check is recognized by international authorities without additional authentication. For residents of Washington, obtaining this certification requires working with the Washington Secretary of State.

Something many Washington residents overlook is that getting an apostille does not mean your document is translated. The majority of Hague member countries also need a notarized translation as well as the apostille. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and the UAE routinely ask for the apostille plus a sworn translation. Our service includes comprehensive apostille-plus-translation packages.

The Hague Apostille Convention streamlined a previously complex chain of certifications that was required before the Convention. Previously, getting an American document accepted overseas involved notarization, state-level certification, federal certification, and then embassy legalization. The Convention simplified this into a single certificate from the appropriate government office. In Washington, the designated office is the Washington Secretary of State.

Washington: State vs Federal Authority

For urgent submissions, same-day processing is offered by our courier service. Some state offices offer walk-in or expedited processing. Our courier exploits walk-in submission options by physically appearing at the office, getting you the fastest possible turnaround from Washington.

The single most important thing to know about the apostille process for your document is determining which office processes your specific document type. In the US, there are two parallel systems: state and federal. State-issued documents — like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and Criminal Background Checks go to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia. Federally issued records, such as FBI Background Checks, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.

For state-issued Criminal Background Checks, the apostille must come from the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia. In most cases, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The Washington Secretary of State reviews the document's seals and signatures and attaches the apostille usually within 1 to 4 weeks.

Why Local Offices Cannot Help

It is also worth knowing, local government offices in Washington in WA also cannot issue apostilles. Even visiting any local Washington government office will not produce a Hague certificate. The sole authority in Washington that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia.

For Washington residents who need a Criminal Background Check apostilled urgently, mail-in self-processing is rarely the right option. Using a physical runner is the only way to access same-day processing at the Washington Secretary of State. Our team handles Washington-area pickups and submissions with complete end-to-end shipment tracking on every submission.

Many residents of Washington often expect they can get an apostille through any notary in WA. This assumption is wrong. A notary public is authorized only to witness signatures and administer oaths. They have no authority to issue an apostille certificate — only designated government offices hold this power.

The Washington Apostille Authority

Once your document arrives at the Washington Secretary of State, an authorized state officer reviews the document and confirms that the issuing official's seals match the registry. Once verified, the apostille is attached as a separate certificate appended to your document. The completed document is then held for courier pickup. Our courier picks it up within 24 hours.

The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia is typically open Monday through Friday. Processing times for mail-in submissions generally range from 5 business days to 4 weeks depending on seasonal demand. For Washington residents who need faster turnaround, an in-person submission via a runner service dramatically cuts the wait.

There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: it may need to be notarized or certified first. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits typically require notarization as a first step. Our team advises you on any pre-apostille requirements before starting the submission so there are no delays from missing prerequisites.

How to Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Washington

Getting your Criminal Background Check apostilled follows a clear sequence of steps. Step one: ensure your Criminal Background Check is in its original, certified form. Step two: check that it has an official seal and signature from the issuing authority. Third: submit it to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia along with the applicable state fee. Step four: receive your apostilled document — ready for international submission.

One of the most overlooked steps is ensuring the document is not expired. Federal background checks, for example, are typically required to be dated within 6 months at the time of submission to the foreign authority. If your document is past its useful window, you will need to obtain a fresh copy before apostilling. Our team verifies document currency as part of our intake process to avoid submitting documents that will be refused.

Some document types require notarization before they can be apostilled. When your document is not a government-issued record, a notarization is usually required by a licensed notary before submission to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia. Our service coordinates any required pre-notarization so you never have to navigate this alone.

How Long Does a Criminal Background Check Apostille Take in Washington?

Knowing where your Criminal Background Check is is a key advantage of using our courier service. We provide status updates at every milestone: initial pickup, receipt by our team, delivery to the government office, completion confirmation, and outbound FedEx tracking back to Washington. This end-to-end tracking is unavailable with standard postal submission.

Turnaround for apostille certification depend on how the document is submitted and the Washington Secretary of State's current workload. Documents sent by postal mail from Washington to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia typically take 3 to 6 weeks round trip — accounting for shipping each way plus processing. During peak periods, such as spring and summer immigration seasons, government processing alone can take 4 to 6 weeks.

For Washington residents in a rush, the most time-efficient route is a courier service that physically delivers to the Washington Secretary of State. The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia can complete apostilles same-day for in-person deliveries. Our runner capitalizes on this to get Washington clients their apostilles in 2 to 5 business days.

What to Include With Your Submission

The Washington Secretary of State's fee of $15 must be included. Forms of payment differ at each Washington Secretary of State but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. We includes fee payment in our all-in-one courier package so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.

An easy-to-miss detail: if your Criminal Background Check was issued in a language other than English, some Washington Secretary of State offices may require a certified English translation before apostilling. In other cases, the Washington Secretary of State apostilles the foreign-language document as-is and translation is handled separately after the apostille. Our team clarifies document-specific requirements when you submit your request.

Before sending your document to the Washington Secretary of State, ensure you have: your original Criminal Background Check or an official certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, a completed submission form if required, payment for the state fee of $15, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Leaving out any item will delay your apostille.

Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid

Sending original documents through the US Postal Service without a tracking number is something we strongly advise against. Documents sent by uninsured mail are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Original government-issued documents are sometimes time-consuming and costly to replace. We ship all documents via FedEx for maximum protection from the moment we receive your document to its return to Washington.

Mailing an uncertified copy instead of the original document is a common rejection reason. The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia requires the original document or a properly certified copy. Sending a photocopy will be rejected without processing. Request a new certified copy before submitting your documents.

Forgetting to include return shipping is a simple but common mistake. The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia will not return your document without a prepaid return method. Without a return label, your apostilled document may sit uncollected for days. Our service includes return shipping — no separate arrangements needed.

Get Your Criminal Background Check Apostilled in Washington

Our courier network covers the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia, typically returning your apostilled document in 2 to 5 business days. No need to visit any government office.

Frequently Asked Questions — Criminal Background Check Apostille in Washington