Diploma Apostille in Washington
Washington's official apostille authority handles all Hague legalization requests for the state. The state charges $15 per apostille. Select your city to get started with a localized quote.
Washington Apostille Requirements
- Authority: Washington Secretary of State
- Office Location: Olympia
- State Fee: $15
- Important Rule: Same day service available for walk-ins.
Select your city to view local apostille processing options and courier times.
What Is a Diploma Apostille?
An apostille is a standardized Hague certification established by the Convention of 5 October 1961. Unlike standard document certification, an apostille is accepted by all 124 Hague member countries — meaning your Diploma is recognized by overseas institutions without further legalization. If you are in Washington, Washington, obtaining this certification means submitting your document to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia.
One critical distinction is that the apostille does not translate your document. Many countries also need a notarized translation alongside the apostille. Most EU countries and many Middle Eastern authorities almost always require the apostille plus a sworn translation. Our service includes complete packages that cover both apostille and certified translation.
The Hague Apostille Convention replaced the cumbersome embassy-by-embassy authentication process that existed before 1961. Under the old system, getting an American document accepted overseas required multiple rounds of authentication at different government levels followed by embassy stamps. The apostille replaced this with a single certificate issued by one designated authority. For Diplomas issued in Washington, that authority is the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia.
Washington: State vs Federal Authority
When timelines are tight, expedited apostille service is available in many cases. Some state offices provide same-day service for in-person deliveries. Our courier takes advantage of in-person processing by physically appearing at the office, bypassing the mail queue entirely.
The most commonly misunderstood thing to know about getting a Diploma apostilled is knowing which office handles your specific document type. In the United States, there are two distinct apostille pathways: state-level and federal. Documents issued by Washington, including Diplomas go to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia. Federally issued records, like FBI Identity History Summaries and federal agency documents, must go to the federal authentication office in DC.
For Washington-issued records, the apostille can only be issued by the Washington Secretary of State's office. Before submission, the document must carry an original official seal or notarization. The Washington Secretary of State verifies the document's origin and seal and attaches the apostille typically in 1 to 3 weeks.
Why Local Offices Cannot Help
It is also worth knowing, local government offices in Washington are equally unable to apostille documents. Even a trip to any local Washington government office would not produce an apostille. The only office in WA that can attach the Hague certificate for state documents is the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia.
For Washington residents who need a Diploma apostilled urgently, relying on postal mail to the Washington Secretary of State is risky. A courier-assisted submission cuts the timeline from 3 to 6 weeks down to 2 to 5 business days. Our team handles Washington-area pickups and submissions with full FedEx tracking and insurance on every submission.
Many residents of Washington mistakenly believe they can obtain Hague legalization at a local UPS Store or notary. This is incorrect. A notary public can only witness signatures and verify identity. They cannot issue an apostille certificate — only the Washington Secretary of State can do this.
The Washington Apostille Authority
Once your document arrives at the Washington Secretary of State, a state official verifies the seals and signatures and checks that signatures are from known, authorized officials. If everything checks out, the apostille is attached as a cover page or attachment. The apostilled document is then mailed back to you. Our courier collects it same-day or next-day.
The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia is accessible for walk-in and mail-in submissions during standard business hours. Turnaround times without expedited service 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 gets the apostille in 2 to 5 business days.
There is sometimes a step before apostille submission: some documents require prior notarization. Diplomas, powers of attorney, and affidavits often must be notarized before the Washington Secretary of State will apostille them. Our team identifies whether any notarization is needed before starting the submission so you are not surprised by a rejection.
How to Get Your Diploma Apostilled in Washington
Getting an apostille on your Diploma follows a clear sequence of steps. First: ensure your Diploma is in its original, certified form. Step two: verify the document carries an authentic official seal. Third: submit it to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia along with the applicable state fee. Fourth: collect the completed apostille — ready for any Hague member country.
One of the most overlooked steps is verifying that your document is current enough for the destination country. FBI Background Checks, for example, have a shelf life of six months or less at the time of consulate or visa submission. If your Diploma is past its useful window, a new document must be requested before submission to the Washington Secretary of State. We check document dates as part of our intake process to flag any potential rejections early.
Certain Diplomas require notarization before they can be apostilled. If your Diploma is not a government-issued record, it will typically need to be notarized by a licensed notary prior to the Washington Secretary of State will accept it. We coordinates any required pre-notarization so you never have to navigate this alone.
How Long Does a Diploma Apostille Take in Washington?
Knowing where your Diploma is is a key advantage of a physical courier over postal mail. Our service includes status updates at every milestone: pickup from your Washington address, receipt by our team, submission to the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia, apostille issuance notification, and outbound FedEx tracking back to Washington. This end-to-end tracking is unavailable with standard postal submission.
Processing times for apostille certification depend on how the document is submitted and the Washington Secretary of State's current workload. Mail-in submissions 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, wait times can extend further.
For Washington residents in a rush, the quickest option is a courier service that physically delivers to the Washington Secretary of State. The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia process walk-in submissions same-day. Our runner uses this option wherever available 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 is required. Accepted payment methods vary by state but typically include personal check, money order, or credit card for online portals. Our courier service handles the fee payment so the submission is never rejected for payment reasons.
One detail that matters: if your Diploma was issued in a language other than English, additional steps may be required depending on the Washington Secretary of State. Alternatively, the Washington Secretary of State apostilles the foreign-language document as-is and translation is handled separately after the apostille. We advise you on this when you submit your request.
When submitting your Diploma for apostille, ensure you have: your original Diploma or an official certified copy, notarization if required for your document type, a completed submission form if required, correct fee payment for the state apostille, and a prepaid return envelope or shipping label. Leaving out any item will result in your documents being returned unprocessed.
Common Apostille Mistakes to Avoid
Mailing irreplaceable originals through standard postal mail without insurance is something we strongly advise against. Documents sent by uninsured mail are vulnerable to loss with no recourse. Vital records and FBI Background Checks 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 an original or certified copy 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 returned immediately. Request a new certified copy before submitting your documents.
Failing to provide a prepaid return label is an easily preventable error that delays apostille returns. The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia will not return your document without a prepaid return method. Without a return label, your completed apostille could wait weeks to reach you. We handle return shipping as part of our flat-rate fee — no separate arrangements needed.
Get Your Diploma 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.
Order NowFrequently Asked Questions — Diploma Apostille in Washington
Does my Diploma need to be notarized before apostilling in Washington?
Yes. Most Secretary of State offices — including the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia — require that Diplomas be notarized or officially certified by the issuing institution before an apostille can be attached. We coordinate the full process: notarization, submission to the Washington Secretary of State, and return of the completed apostille.
Which state handles the apostille if I now live in Washington but attended school elsewhere?
The apostille must come from the state where the issuing institution is located — not the state where you currently live. If your Diploma was issued by a Washington institution, the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia is the correct office. If you attended school in another state, that state's Secretary of State handles the apostille.
How do I get a certified copy of my Diploma suitable for apostilling?
Contact the institution that issued your Diploma — typically the registrar, alumni office, or records department — and request an officially certified copy bearing an original seal or signature. This certified copy, not a photocopy, is what the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia will accept. We can advise on institution-specific requirements when you place your order.
Will my apostilled Diploma from Washington be accepted in countries that require specific formats?
Countries like Germany and the UAE have specific requirements for educational documents beyond the apostille — including certified translations and sometimes additional attestation. The apostille from the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia satisfies the Hague authentication requirement, but you may also need a sworn translation and, in some cases, attestation by the destination country's embassy. We offer full packages that cover apostille plus translation.