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