Federal documents, authenticated end-to-end.
FBI background checks
Most common federal apostille request: required for teaching, residency, and adoption abroad.
IRS letters & EIN verification
Form 6166 residency certifications, EIN letters, and Form CP575 authenticated for international contracts.
USPTO + federal court records
Trademark certificates, copyright registrations, federal court orders authenticated through Dept of State.
Couriered hand-walk
Our DC specialist walks documents through State Dept counter: no mail risk, no delays.
126 Hague countries
Spain, France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Mexico, Brazil: single-step authentication.
Non-Hague? We chain it
For non-Hague countries (China, UAE, Canada, etc.) we handle the multi-step embassy legalization chain.
A clean handoff, in 4 steps.
Send us the original
Mail or drop off the original federal document. Photocopies are not accepted by the State Department.
We verify the issuing authority
FBI, IRS, USPTO, federal court each have specific signatory requirements. We pre-check before submission.
Hand-walked through DC
Our specialist physically walks the doc through the State Department counter in DC.
Apostille returned + scanned
You receive the original by tracked courier plus a high-resolution scan.
One-time, or part of your BOS.
- 1 document apostille
- Pre-check by specialist
- Hand-walk through State Dept
- Scanned + couriered return
- Email tracking updates
- Unlimited apostilles/year
- State + federal authentication
- RA + AR + EIN included
- Compliance Score monitoring
- Priority specialist queue
Common questions.
What is a federal apostille?
Federal documents, those issued by US federal agencies, are authenticated through a federal process rather than a state apostille, typically involving the US Department of State, so the path differs from authenticating state documents. We flag which route your document needs and help you navigate it. See apostille.
When do I need federal document authentication?
When a document issued by a federal agency must be recognized abroad, for example certain IRS or federal records used in international business, so it arises with federally issued documents specifically. We flag whether your document is federal or state so it goes through the correct authentication path.
How is federal authentication different from a state apostille?
A state apostille authenticates state-issued documents through a state authority, while federal documents are authenticated through the federal process, so the issuing level of the document determines which applies. We flag which your document requires so you do not send a federal document down the state path or vice versa.
What federal documents commonly need authentication?
Certain federally issued records used internationally, such as some IRS documents or federal certifications, may need authentication for foreign recognition, depending on the destination country's requirements. We flag which of your documents are federal and require this route so they are authenticated correctly.
Does the destination country affect the process?
Yes: whether the country is in the Hague Convention determines whether an apostille-style authentication or full legalization applies, even for federal documents, so the destination shapes the steps. We flag your target country's requirements so your federal document is authenticated the right way.
How long does federal authentication take?
Federal authentication through the Department of State can take longer than a state apostille, and adding consular legalization for non-Hague countries extends it further, so timing varies. We flag realistic timing so authentication does not hold up your international transaction.
Do federal documents need notarization first?
It depends on the document: some federally issued documents are authenticated based on the issuing agency's certification rather than a notary, so the preparation differs from typical state documents. We flag the correct preparation for your federal document so it is ready for the authentication authority.
How does this fit with using documents abroad?
Federal authentication is one path within the broader task of getting US documents recognized abroad, alongside state apostilles and consular legalization, so the right path depends on the document and country. We flag the full picture so your documents are accepted where you need them.
Can File.Business help with federal document authentication?
Yes: we flag whether your document is federal or state, identify the correct authentication path and any legalization your destination country requires, and coordinate the process, so your documents are properly authenticated for international use. See document authentication.