Apostille for U.S. Federal Documents

If you need to apostille a federal document in the United States — not a birth certificate, not a diploma, but something like an FBI background check or IRS letter — this guide will show you exactly how it works and which documents are actually accepted by the U.S. Department of State for apostille.

What Counts as a Federal Document?
Not everything issued by a government office is “federal.” Only documents issued by U.S. federal agencies — not state, county, city, or private entities — can be apostilled at the federal level through the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
Here’s what qualifies:

• FBI – Background Checks (Identity History Summary)
• USCIS – Certificate of Naturalization / Citizenship
• IRS – Form 6166 (Residency Certification)
• FDA – Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG)
• EPA – Environmental Compliance Letters
• USPTO – Patent Grant / Trademark Certificate
• U.S. District Courts – Certified Judgments
• Department of Defense – DD-214 (Military Discharge)
• U.S. Department of State – Federal Letters or Certifications

Document-by-Document: What Clients Actually Request
These are the exact documents clients come to us for — usually after searching by name, form number, or agency.

FBI Background Check Apostille
Common search: “apostille for FBI background check”
Used for immigration, visas, employment, or adoption abroad.
Must be issued directly by the FBI and dated within 90 days.

USCIS Naturalization Certificate Apostille
Common search: “apostille naturalization certificate USA”
Used to prove U.S. citizenship for dual nationality or consular registration.
Only original certificates accepted — no copies or scans.

IRS Forms: 147C and 6166
Common searches:

• “apostille IRS Form 6166”
• “apostille Form 147C”

147C confirms your EIN — often required by foreign banks or corporate registries.
6166 certifies U.S. tax residency for treaty benefits — common for expats.

FDA Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG)
Common search: “apostille FDA certificate”
Required for export of FDA-regulated goods like supplements, cosmetics, or devices.
Verifies U.S. federal approval for foreign governments.

USPTO Patent / Trademark Certificate
Common search: “apostille patent certificate USA”
Needed for defending IP abroad or registering in foreign countries.
Only original certificates from USPTO are accepted.

DD-214 Military Discharge Apostille
Common search: “apostille DD-214 military”
Used for veteran verification abroad, pension filings, or immigration sponsorship.
Must be certified by the National Archives or original issuer.

Federal Court Judgment Apostille
Common search: “apostille U.S. federal court order”
Applies to enforcement of civil or commercial judgments in a foreign country.
Must first be certified by the Clerk of Court.

Not Sure If Your Document Is Federal?
Many clients are unsure whether their document qualifies for federal apostille.
If you’re not certain — just send us a scan.
We’ll confirm eligibility within minutes and tell you the right path forward.

What People Actually Search on Google
Before clients find us, they’re usually searching for exactly what they have in hand. These are some of the most common phrases we see:

• “apostille for FBI background check”
• “apostille Form 147C”
• “apostille naturalization certificate USA”
• “apostille for FDA certificate”
• “apostille for IRS Form 6166”
• “apostille DD-214 military”
• “how to apostille patent certificate”
• “apostille USCIS citizenship document”

If one of these sounds like you — we handle it daily.

What If the IRS Form You Have Isn’t Eligible?
Many IRS-related documents — like Form 1065, Form 1120, 1040, Form 147C, CP575 Notice, EIN confirmation letters, or tax return transcripts — ❌ cannot be apostilled. These are usually internal, unsigned, or electronically generated records that do not meet federal authentication requirements.
However, if a foreign bank, tax authority, or legal entity is asking for “apostilled proof of your U.S. tax or business status,” here are ✅ documents you can use instead — and that can actually be apostilled.

📌 Tip: Always try to use IRS Form 6166 or certified state-issued documents first. Affidavits should only be used if nothing else can be obtained.

Real Case Example
One of our clients needed to open a business bank account in Spain. The bank requested an apostilled EIN letter (IRS Form 147C). Since most 147C letters are not eligible for apostille, we first verified the original paper document issued by the IRS — signed and mailed.
It qualified for federal apostille, and we processed it through the U.S. Department of State. The document was delivered to Madrid in 5 business days — accepted with no issues.

How It Works

1. You send the original federal document (or certified copy, depending on the agency)
2. We confirm eligibility and prepare the submission
3. We handle all processing with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
4. You receive the completed apostille via secure, trackable delivery

Expedited service is available for most document types.

Where Will the Apostille Be Accepted?
U.S. federal apostilles are valid in 100+ countries, including:

• Mexico, Argentina, Colombia
• France, Spain, Germany, Italy
• Japan, Brazil, South Korea

Countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention may require a different procedure. We’ll guide you accordingly based on destination.

Get Your Apostille Started
We specialize in federal-level apostilles — no guesswork, no misrouting. You’ll know exactly what’s happening at every step.
✅ 500+ clients served nationwide
✅ Apostilles accepted in 100+ countries
✅ Multilingual support: English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian.