Seattle Apostille Service in Washington
Apostille Request Form
Seattle’s apostille requests come mostly from people on the move. Engineers transferring to London, Dublin or Singapore need apostilled degrees and marriage certificates for work and dependent visas; University of Washington and Seattle University graduates need diplomas for jobs and graduate study abroad; and families across King County need birth certificates for second passports. Companies in South Lake Union, Bellevue and Redmond send corporate documents for overseas subsidiaries.
Seattle is about two and a half hours north of our Vancouver, Washington office, so Seattle clients mail documents to us. We check each one first, especially degrees from out-of-state universities, which go to a different Secretary of State, and FBI checks, which go to the U.S. Department of State, and then file everything with the right authority.
Who Apostilles Seattle Documents?
Documents issued in Washington are apostilled by the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Apostille and Certificate Program, at 801 Capitol Way South in Olympia. The state fee is $15 per document; standard processing takes about 7 to 10 business days, and same-day service is available in person for an extra fee. The document must carry the signature of a Washington official or a Washington notary with a complete notarial certificate. FBI background checks are federal and go to the U.S. Department of State.
Many Seattle residents have documents from other states or countries. Out-of-state documents go to that state’s Secretary of State. We route each document accordingly.
King County Offices Seattle Residents Use
King County Recorder’s Office (marriage records)
Marriage licenses issued in King County are recorded by the King County Recorder’s Office, which provides certified copies. The Washington State Department of Health also issues marriage certificates.
King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office (divorce and court records)
Certified divorce decrees, adoption orders and name changes come from the King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Seattle. Ask for a certified copy.
Birth and death certificates
Order certified copies from the Washington State Department of Health or Public Health – Seattle & King County. The Department of Health can also forward a new certificate to the Secretary of State for an apostille when you order it.
Documents We Apostille for Seattle Clients
- Relocation: degrees, transcripts, marriage and birth certificates and FBI checks for work and dependent visas.
- Academic: University of Washington, Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University diplomas and transcripts.
- Corporate: certificates of existence, articles, board resolutions and powers of attorney for subsidiaries abroad.
- Personal: divorce decrees, adoption records and single status affidavits.
How Our Seattle Apostille Service Works
Seattle clients mail documents with tracking. HR teams can send several employees’ documents together, and we return each set separately.
- Call (360) 998-7302 or use the form above. We confirm the document and destination country first.
- Send or bring the document to our Vancouver office: 201 NE Park Plaza, Suite 221, Vancouver, WA 98684.
- We file it with the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia ($15 state fee per apostille).
- We return it to you or ship it abroad, with tracking.
Countries that need legalization instead
For non-Hague countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Vietnam and Egypt, the document needs embassy legalization after state certification. We quote that process before starting.
Seattle Apostille Cost and Timing
Seattle orders follow our standard Washington pricing. Out-of-state documents are $195 for most states.
- Washington apostille: $195 for the first document and $65 for each additional document, plus the $15 state fee per apostille.
- Timing: about 10 business days, depending on state processing.
- FBI background check apostille: $195 regular (5+ weeks) or $390 expedited (about 10 business days).
- Certified translation: $65 per document, usually 1 to 2 business days.
Seattle Apostille FAQ
How do I apostille a University of Washington diploma?
The registrar’s certification of the diploma or transcript is notarized by a Washington notary, then the Washington Secretary of State apostilles it. We coordinate the steps.
Where do I get a King County marriage certificate?
From the King County Recorder’s Office or the Washington State Department of Health.
Can the Department of Health get the apostille for me?
Yes, when you order a new Washington birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate, the Department of Health can forward it to the Secretary of State for an apostille. We can handle certificates you already have.
Do I have to go to Olympia?
No. We file with the Secretary of State for you.
How long does a Seattle apostille take?
About 10 business days for Washington documents, plus shipping.
Get Your Seattle Documents Apostilled
Call (360) 998-7302 or use the request form above. Tell us what the Seattle document is and which country it is going to, and we will confirm the right version before you send it. More detail is on our Washington apostille service page.