Washington
OPM Annuity & Pension Letter Apostille in Washington
How Washington residents get their OPM Annuity & Pension Letter authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Washington Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Washington. Federal documents like your OPM Annuity & Pension Letter are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Washington 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
- Washington apostille office
- Washington Secretary of State, Olympia
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Washington doesn’t change the route
This document is issued by U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Washington 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 OPM Annuity & Pension Letter
An OPM letter verifying a federal retiree's civil-service annuity, used as proof of income for residency and retirement visas.
What the Washington Secretary of State can do
The Washington Secretary of State in Olympia issues apostilles for documents signed by Washington officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Washington registrars, Washington state-court records, and documents notarized by Washington 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 Washington
We serve Washington 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 Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue and everywhere else in Washington.
OPM Annuity & Pension Letter in Washington — FAQ
Can the Washington Secretary of State apostille my OPM Annuity & Pension Letter?
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 Washington?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Washington clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Washington?
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: OPM Annuity & Pension Letter — full guide · All documents in Washington · 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.