Guide
How Much Does an Apostille Cost?
The government fee is small. Time, shipping and rejected filings are what make an apostille expensive. Here is every cost, line by line.
Quick answer
A federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State costs $20 per document in government fees. State apostilles are set by each state (Florida charges $10 per document). Non-Hague countries add an embassy legalization fee set by each consulate. A full-service federal apostille through Federal Apostille USA is $299 per document with all government fees and U.S. shipping included.
Key takeaways
- U.S. Department of State fee: $20 per document, not per page.
- State apostille fees are set by each state; Florida charges $10 per document.
- Non-Hague countries add embassy legalization, priced by each consulate.
- The FBI charges $18 for an Identity History Summary before it can be apostilled.
- Service prices cover preparation, submission, tracking and return shipping.
On this page
Federal apostille cost
The U.S. Department of State charges $20 per document to issue an apostille or authentication certificate for a federal document — an FBI background check, IRS Form 6166, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, a USCIS certificate copy and similar records. The fee is per document, not per page. On top of that you pay for your own shipping both ways and the time to prepare Form DS-4194. Details: U.S. Department of State apostille.
State apostille cost
Documents issued by a state or county — birth, marriage and death certificates, court records, notarized documents — are apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State, at a fee the state sets. Florida, for example, charges $10 per document ($20 for documents certified by a Clerk of Court). A state apostille cannot be used on a federal document, and the reverse is also true. See federal vs. state apostille.
Embassy legalization cost
Countries outside the Hague Convention do not accept apostilles. Your document needs U.S. Department of State authentication ($20) and then legalization by the destination country’s embassy or consulate, which sets its own fee and processing time. See apostille vs. embassy legalization.
What you pay, route by route
| Route | Government fee | With Federal Apostille USA |
|---|---|---|
| Federal apostille (Hague country) | $20 per document (U.S. Department of State) | $299 per document, all fees included |
| Federal authentication + embassy legalization (non-Hague) | $20 State Department fee + the embassy’s own fee | $399 per document, all fees included |
| FBI background check + apostille | $18 FBI fee + $20 State Department fee | $399 bundle, in person at West Palm Beach or Miami |
| Florida document, non-Hague country | $10 Florida fee ($20 for Clerk of Court documents) + $20 + embassy fee | $599 per document, all fees included |
| State apostille (Hague country) | Set by each state | Not offered — handled by your state’s Secretary of State |
The costs people forget
- Getting the document first. The FBI charges $18 for an Identity History Summary; IRS Form 6166 requires a Form 8802 user fee; replacement USCIS and CRBA records have their own fees.
- Tracked shipping both ways. The State Department returns documents only in the prepaid envelope you supply.
- Rejections. A document sent to the wrong office, or missing a required signature, comes back unprocessed — and you pay to ship it again. See why apostilles get rejected.
- Translation. Many countries also require a certified translation of the document and apostille.
Our flat prices
Federal apostille: $299 per document, about 10–12 business days, government fees and U.S. shipping included. Worldwide return: $99 flat. Full list on our pricing page, including a side-by-side of doing it yourself vs. ordering from us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a federal apostille cost?
The U.S. Department of State charges $20 per document. Shipping is extra. Federal Apostille USA charges $299 per document with the government fee, preparation and U.S. shipping included.
Is the apostille fee per page or per document?
Per document. The U.S. Department of State charges $20 for each document it authenticates, regardless of the number of pages.
How much does it cost to apostille an FBI background check?
The FBI charges $18 for the Identity History Summary and the U.S. Department of State charges $20 for the apostille. Our FBI check plus apostille bundle, done in person at our West Palm Beach or Miami office, is $399.
Why do apostille services cost more than the government fee?
Service prices cover document review, preparing the request, submission, tracking and return shipping, and handling rejections. The government fee itself is only a small part of the total.
How much does embassy legalization cost?
Each embassy or consulate sets its own fee. Our standalone embassy legalization is $99 for a document already authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, and $399 for authentication plus legalization together.
Official sources: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services · Florida Department of State — Apostilles · HCCH — Apostille Section. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.