How to Get an Apostille in Washington DC for the DAFT Visa
Getting an apostille in District of Columbia is straightforward. The DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications processes apostilles for birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other state documents.
Processing Time: 5-7 business days Cost: $20 per document Methods: Mail, In-person
What You Need
Documents that need District of Columbia apostille:
- Birth certificate (if born in District of Columbia)
- Marriage certificate (if married in District of Columbia)
- Other District of Columbia state documents
FBI background check is apostilled by US Department of State, not District of Columbia.
The Process
Step 1: Order certified copy of your document from DC Vital Records Division ($23, 2-4 weeks).
Step 2: Mail to DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications with $20 payment, or go in person to the office.
Step 3: Wait 5-7 business days for processing.
Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $23 |
| Apostille | $20 |
| Return shipping | ~$12 |
| Total | $53-$58 |
Timeline
Total time: 3-5 weeks
- Order certificate: 2-4 weeks
- Apostille: 5-7 business days
Start 2 months before you need it.
Expedited Service
District of Columbia offers expedited apostille processing:
- Fee: $40
- Time: Same day
Same-day service may be available in person.
In-Person Option
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20004 Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4pm Same-day service available for $40 per document
Contact
DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications
- Website: https://os.dc.gov
- Phone: (202) 727-6306
- Email: notary.services@dc.gov
For general apostille information, see Apostille Process Explained.
Related Resources:
- Birth Certificate Apostille Guide - Complete birth certificate process
- DAFT Documents Checklist - All required documents
- Complete DAFT Guide - Full application walkthrough
Digital Guide — $99
We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.