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