Maine
Naturalization Certificate Apostille in Maine
How Maine residents get their Naturalization Certificate authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Maine Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Maine. Federal documents like your Naturalization Certificate are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Maine 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
- Maine apostille office
- Maine Secretary of State, Augusta
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Maine doesn’t change the route
This document is issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Maine Secretary of State in Augusta has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Maine 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 Naturalization Certificate
How to apostille a Certificate of Naturalization for use abroad.
What the Maine Secretary of State can do
The Maine Secretary of State in Augusta issues apostilles for documents signed by Maine officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Maine registrars, Maine state-court records, and documents notarized by Maine 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 Maine
We serve Maine 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 Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta and everywhere else in Maine.
Naturalization Certificate in Maine — FAQ
Can the Maine Secretary of State apostille my Naturalization Certificate?
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 Maine?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Maine clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Maine?
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: Naturalization Certificate — full guide · All documents in Maine · 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.