Washington, DC
FD-258 Fingerprint Card Apostille in Washington, DC
How Washington residents get their FD-258 Fingerprint Card authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, the local details, timing and price.
Quick answer
The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled. The one local step in Washington is getting fingerprinted; the FBI report your prints produce is then authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
- County
- District of Columbia
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- State apostille office
- Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Washington
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (headquarters)
Getting fingerprinted in Washington, D.C.
Fingerprinting is the one step that has to happen locally. The FD-258 card itself is never apostilled — it produces the FBI report, and the report is what gets authenticated.
In Washington, D.C., prints can be taken by local law-enforcement agencies and licensed fingerprinting providers in cities such as Washington. Electronic (live scan) capture through an FBI-approved channeler is usually fastest.
Once the report is issued, we authenticate it in Washington, D.C. and ship it anywhere. See FBI background check apostille.
Washington: the local details
Washington is in District of Columbia, within the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Washington, D.C. state documents are apostilled by the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia in Washington.
Fingerprinting is the one step that happens locally — through Washington-area law-enforcement agencies or licensed providers, or electronically through an FBI-approved channeler. Everything after that we handle by mail.
About the FD-258 Fingerprint Card
How the FD-258 fingerprint card fits into obtaining and apostilling an FBI background check.
Getting it done from Washington
Our Washington, D.C. (headquarters) office serves Washington directly, and most clients still send documents by mail.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
FD-258 Fingerprint Card in Washington — FAQ
Is there an apostille office in Washington for a FD-258 Fingerprint Card?
No. The only office that can authenticate this document is the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for Washington clients by mail.
Do I need to visit an office in Washington?
No. Washington clients send documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Washington?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$399 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Which federal court covers Washington?
Washington is in District of Columbia, within the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Related: All documents in Washington · FD-258 Fingerprint Card in Washington, D.C. · FD-258 Fingerprint Card — full guide
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