An apostille is a certificate that lets another country accept a US paper. In Washington, the Secretary of State issues it, through the same Corporations and Charities office that registers LLCs and corporations.
The office confirms that the signer is real. It verifies that the notary, clerk or records officer was authorized and followed state law. It does not check the contents. The Washington office guide covers the business register, and our apostille guide explains the idea in general.
When you need one in Washington
Ask for an apostille when a Washington paper must be accepted in a foreign country. Typical papers are powers of attorney, affidavits, school records, vital records and company documents. The receiving country decides which it wants.
The certificate has no value inside the United States, its territories or its possessions. If the receiving country is not in the Hague Convention, the apostille is not enough on its own. Papers going to those countries may need a further certificate from the US Department of State.
Fees, speed and where to go
| Who issues it | Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities, Olympia (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee per document | $15.00 per document for standard processing (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| How to submit | By mail, or same day in person at Tumwater or Cheney for an extra $150 (first 10 documents) (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Turnaround | Standard processing takes 7 to 10 business days (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Documents it covers | Business records only as certified copies or certificates from the Corporations Division (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Hague and non-Hague countries | Apostilles go to Hague Convention countries, other countries get a Certificate of Authentication (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Request page | sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/apostilles-services-information-resource-page (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Where to send it | PO Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220 (apps.sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | Business documents needing an apostille cannot be ordered online (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
| expedite | Expedite adds $100 for each 10 documents (sos.wa.gov, checked ) |
Standard service takes 7 to 10 business days from the day the order arrives. Expedited service adds $100 for each 10 documents and runs 2 to 3 business days. Same-day service in person is available at Tumwater and at the Cheney office, and the Cheney office does same-day work only. Same-day fees apply, so check the office page for larger batches.
Pay by check or money order in US dollars, made out to Secretary of State. The office returns documents by regular first-class mail. If you are in a hurry or sending abroad, add a prepaid traceable return label.
What papers Washington will apostille
- A paper notarized by a Washington notary, with a full notarial certificate.
- An original or certified copy of a record issued by a Washington government body.
- A certified Washington court document.
- Official school papers signed by the right school or college officer.
A notary certificate has to be complete, signed and stamped, with a clear English statement of the act performed. The notary's name on the stamp and signature must match, and it must match the Notary Division directory. Do not staple the certificate to the paper.
Vital records come from the Center for Vital Statistics or a county health department. Do not notarize them. A birth certificate issued in another state must be apostilled there.
Business papers from the Secretary of State
For a company document, the apostille attaches to a certified copy or a certificate that the Corporations Division itself issues. A copy that already left the office is not accepted. You order the certified record and the apostille together on the Business Records request form. The two services are billed by two departments.
Our Washington certificate of good standing page explains the certificate you will probably want. Our articles of organization guide explains the founding paper, which can also be certified.
Mistakes that slow you down
Start with the signer. Washington authenticates only Washington notaries and officials. Federal papers, military notaries and naturalization certificates go to other offices.
Also check the country of use before you mail. If you are unsure, ask the office or the receiving authority first. Our private service can help with orders, and you can ask our private filing service if you want. State fees are separate, and you can send papers to the state yourself.
Sources
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/contact-us: office name, division, officeholder, mailing address, street address, phone, contact page, corporation filing fee. Checked .
- ccfs.sos.wa.gov/: business search, certificate ordering. Checked .
- data.wa.gov/api/views/f9jk-mm39.json: search fields. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/business-entities/limited-liability-company-llc-professional-llc-pllc-filing-resource-page: LLC name endings, LLC filing fee, report fee. Checked .
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=23.95.305: corporation name endings, restricted words, name rule. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/Name_Reservation.pdf: name reservation fee, name reservation term, name reservation form. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/fee-scheduleexpedited-service: nonprofit filing fee, late penalty, expedite fees, good standing certificate, certificate fee. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/business-entities/online-filing-instructions/register-foreign-non-wa-limited-liability-company-llc-online: foreign LLC fee. Checked .
- app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=23.95.255: report due date. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/business-entities/online-filing-instructions/start-domestic-wa-limited-liability-company-llc-online: online filing. Checked .
- app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=23.95.415: registered agent rule. Checked .
- www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/apostilles-services-information-resource-page: who issues it, fee per document, how to submit, turnaround, documents it covers, hague and non-hague countries, request page, worth knowing, expedite. Checked .
- apps.sos.wa.gov/corps/apostilles/apostille-frequently-asked-questions.aspx: where to send it. Checked .