Tennessee
USDA Export Certificate Apostille in Tennessee
How Tennessee residents get their USDA Export Certificate authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Tennessee Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Tennessee. Federal documents like your USDA Export Certificate are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Tennessee 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
- Tennessee apostille office
- Tennessee Secretary of State, Nashville
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Tennessee 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 Tennessee Secretary of State in Nashville has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Tennessee 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 Tennessee Secretary of State can do
The Tennessee Secretary of State in Nashville issues apostilles for documents signed by Tennessee officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Tennessee registrars, Tennessee state-court records, and documents notarized by Tennessee 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 Tennessee
We serve Tennessee 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 Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga and everywhere else in Tennessee.
USDA Export Certificate in Tennessee — FAQ
Can the Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Tennessee clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Tennessee?
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 Tennessee · 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.