Alabama
Non-Existence of Record Apostille in Alabama
How Alabama residents get their Non-Existence of Record authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Alabama Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Alabama. Federal documents like your Non-Existence of Record are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Alabama Secretary of State can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.
- Authenticated by
- U.S. Department of State
- Alabama apostille office
- Alabama Secretary of State, Montgomery
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Alabama doesn’t change the route
This document is issued by US Department of State / Social Security Administration, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Alabama Secretary of State in Montgomery has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Alabama residents is the same as for anyone else in the country: get the document to us, we hand-deliver it in Washington, and it comes back ready to use.
About the Non-Existence of Record
How to apostille a Certificate of Non-Existence of Record (CNR) — proof that a U.S.
What the Alabama Secretary of State can do
The Alabama Secretary of State in Montgomery issues apostilles for documents signed by Alabama officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Alabama registrars, Alabama state-court records, and documents notarized by Alabama notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.
State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.
Getting it done from Alabama
We serve Alabama by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.
| 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 |
Serving Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile and everywhere else in Alabama.
Non-Existence of Record in Alabama — FAQ
Can the Alabama Secretary of State apostille my Non-Existence of Record?
No. This is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can authenticate it. A state apostille on it would be rejected abroad.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Alabama?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Alabama clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Alabama?
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?
$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Related: Non-Existence of Record — full guide · All documents in Alabama · Federal vs. state apostille
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.