How Long Does It Take to Get an Apostille in the U.S.?
Full Guide by Document Type and Processing Time
Are you planning to travel, study, get married, or conduct business abroad? You may be required to submit official documents with an apostille or embassy legalization. If it’s your first time navigating this process, you’re likely wondering: how long does it take to get an apostille? The answer depends on several factors—but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about apostille timelines, the types of documents involved, and how to simplify the process.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is a type of authentication used for documents that are being sent to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. It verifies the seal and signature on a document, not the content itself.
If your destination country is not a member of the Hague Convention, your document may require embassy or consulate legalization instead.
Common reasons people need apostilles:
- Studying or working abroad
- Marriage in a foreign country
- International adoptions
- Business expansion overseas
Depending on your situation, you may need to apostille personal or business documents such as:
- Birth and marriage certificates
- School transcripts and diplomas
- FBI background checks
- Articles of Incorporation
- Power of Attorney documents
How Long Does It Take to Get an Apostille?
While it might seem like a simple question, the answer depends on several variables—especially the type of document and whether it needs embassy legalization. Below is a helpful overview:
📋 Estimated Processing Times by Document Type
| Document Type | Authentication Type | Estimated Time |
| State-issued | Apostille | 4–14 business days |
| Federal | Apostille | 6–8 weeks |
| State-issued | Embassy Legalization | 3–8 weeks |
| Federal | Embassy Legalization | 3–8 weeks |
| Any | With Rush Service | As fast as 1–3 days* |
*Rush service availability depends on the state or federal agency involved.
Factors That Affect Apostille Processing Time
Several factors can influence how quickly your document can be authenticated:
- Type of document (state vs. federal)
- Destination country (apostille vs. legalization)
- State of issuance (some states process faster than others)
- Time of year (holidays and peak seasons may cause delays)
- Rush service availability
- Completeness of your documents (missing or incorrect info can cause rejections)
Let One Source Process Get Your Apostille
We understand the apostille process can be confusing and time-consuming. That’s why we’re here to help. Whether you need a state or federal apostille, or embassy legalization, we handle it all—from start to finish.
Here’s how it works:
- Complete our simple Order Form
- We review your documents for FREE and notify you of any issues
- We send you a payment invoice and timeline
- We process your documents and deliver the completed apostille or legalization
That’s it! You don’t need to visit government offices or navigate embassy requirements—we take care of everything.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I get an apostille the same day?
A: In some cases, yes—especially if your state offers same-day processing and you choose rush service. Contact us to check availability.
Q: Do apostilles expire?
A: Apostilles themselves don’t expire, but the receiving institution may require recent issuance (usually within 3–6 months).
Q: What if I submit the wrong document?
A: We offer a free document review before processing to avoid errors and delays.
Q: What’s the difference between notarization and apostille?
A: Notarization verifies your signature on a document, while an apostille authenticates the notary’s credentials for international use.
Ready to Get Started?
We’re available 7 days a week and have helped thousands of clients obtain apostilles and embassy legalizations across all 50 states.➡️ Submit your order form here or contact us with any questions.
Let us make the process fast, easy, and stress-free.
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Can you get me an apostiled Pennsylvania Birth Certificate in 6 weeks? What will it cost?
I have a copy of the birth certificate in-hand but it is not apostiled and I am in Guatemala. I return to the US in 6 weeks which is why I ask how long this takes.
Ben
We can get it apostilled much faster than that! To ensure that we can process your documents accurately and promptly, we kindly request that you upload a copy of them for review through our order form available at https://www.onesourceprocess.com/apostillelegalization/. After submitting your request, one of our specialists will be assigned to review your documents and provide you with a quote and review results via email. If you choose to proceed with the service, the specialist will also send you a payment link to start the apostille process.
Thank you,
Danny
Greetings
What is the current processing time to apostille a FBI criminal background check?
Thank you
Hello Zac,
At the moment, it is taking us 1-3 weeks to obtain federal apostilles and ship them back to you. To ensure that we can process your documents accurately and promptly, we kindly request that you upload a copy of them for review through our order form available at https://www.onesourceprocess.com/apostillelegalization/.
After submitting your request, one of our specialists will be assigned to review your documents and provide you with a quote and review results via email. If you choose to proceed with our service, your specialist will also send you a payment link to start the apostille process.
Thank you,
Danny
I need to give a power of attorney to someone in Mexico to sell real property. Is an apostille enough to certify it or does it need to be done by the Mexican consulate?
Hello Bill,
That completely depends on the Mexican authorities requesting your document. Most of our clients simply need the apostille to submit their requests but given the importance of the matter, we highly recommend you check with the Mexican side. If an apostille is all you need, please feel free to fill out our online order form to begin your free consultation!
Danny