Washington apostilles cost $15 per document. The Secretary of State offers same-day service in person in Tumwater or Cheney (+$150, first 10 documents) and expedited processing in 2-3 business days (+$100 per 10 documents); mail requests to PO Box 40234, Olympia take 7-10 business days. Source: Washington Secretary of State. Last verified 2026-10-20.
Mail requests go to Olympia (PO Box 40234; 7-10 business days). In-person same-day service available in Tumwater & Cheney (+$150). State fee: $15/doc.
Compare services below to find your fastest safe route →
Mail goes to PO Box 40234, Olympia. Processing can take longer when volumes are high.
Same-day service (+$150, first 10 documents). 243 Israel Rd SE, Tumwater; Mon-Thu 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Same-day service (+$150, first 10 documents). 960 Washington St, Cheney; Mon-Wed and Fri 9 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Thursdays.
Looking for DIY instructions? Washington DIY Guide
Standard mail processing in Washington takes 7-10 business days. Washington also offers expedited processing (+$100 per 10 documents, 2-3 business days) and same-day service in person in Tumwater or Cheney (+$150, first 10 documents).
Balance speed, cost, and convenience based on your deadline.
Best for: 3+ weeks / flexible timeline
Best for: 1–7 days / tight deadlines
Best for: under a week / 3–10 days
Note: Washington offers expedited processing (+$100 per 10 documents, 2-3 business days) and same-day service in person in Tumwater or Cheney. State fee: $15/doc.
Understanding your options is the first step.
Secretary of State office, 243 Israel Rd SE
Mon-Thu 8am-4pm, Fri 8am-3pm • +$150 same-day fee
Secretary of State office, 960 Washington St
Mon-Wed & Fri 9am-3pm • +$150 same-day fee
Standard mail processing
Most affordable • Use DIY guide
US Dept. of State apostille
Cannot be done at state level
Unlike standard mail processing, expedited couriers handle your document physically at every step to ensure speed.
Critical first step.
Your document is physically hand-carried to the WA Secretary of State in Tumwater or Cheney for same-day service (+$150, first 10 documents). State fee: $15/doc.
Once processed, your apostille is picked up from the office.
Recommended for urgent deadlines where a 7-10 business-day mail wait is not an option.
Moving or traveling within 2 weeks? The mail queue is too risky for such tight apostille deadlines.
For mergers, court dates, or POA filings requiring strict same-day authentication.
Student visas and foreign job offers often have tight windows for diploma apostilles.
Marriage certificates often need last-minute apostille legalization before the ceremony.
Top-rated providers servicing Washington. Verified for quality and responsive support.
We may receive a referral fee from the provider listed below.
Premier expedited service provider specializing in same-day authentication for birth certificates, marriage licenses, and corporate filings. Direct submission to maximizing speed.
"We've verified WA Apostille Express's licensing and track record. They are our #1 recommendation for speed and reliability in Olympia."
If your deadline is flexible (4+ weeks), the DIY mail-in option is significantly cheaper. Our free guide helps you avoid mistakes.
Yes, if submitted in person at the Tumwater or Cheney office (+$150 same-day fee, first 10 documents). Mail requests to Olympia take 7-10 business days; expedited processing takes 2-3 business days (+$100 per 10 documents).
Yes. Washington has one mailing address: PO Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234. In-person service is in Tumwater and Cheney.
Courier fees range from $125 to $250 per document, plus the $15 Washington state fee per document and, for same-day service, the $150 same-day fee (first 10 documents).
Speed and Certainty: The DIY mail-in process to Olympia takes 7-10 business days. Expedited services physically walk your document into the Secretary of State's office in Tumwater or Cheney for same-day processing.
Yes. You do not need to be physically present in Washington. You can mail your documents to one of the expedited providers listed above. They will physically present your document to the Secretary of State in Tumwater or Cheney on your behalf and ship it back to you.
Most Washington vital records (birth, marriage, death) and WA notarized documents (Power of Attorney) can be expedited. Note: Vital records must be certified copies signed by a Washington state or county official.
Yes. Same-day in-person service is available in Tumwater (243 Israel Rd SE) and Cheney (960 Washington St) for an extra $150 same-day fee (first 10 documents). Using a registered service provider is recommended to ensure error-free submission.
This is the main benefit of using a pro service. They review your document before submission. If you mail it yourself (DIY) to Olympia and it gets rejected, you lose the 7-10 business days of waiting time.
No. Same-day is an in-person service concept, but it depends on eligibility. If anything is missing, you’ll lose the same-day advantage.
Document eligibility. Most attempts fail because of incorrect notarization or an unacceptable copy.
Yes—couriers hand-carry and submit in person on your behalf at both offices.
Overnight ship your documents to a courier in Washington for in-person submission.
No. Federal documents must be processed by the US Department of State in Washington DC.
Non-Hague destinations often require an authentication chain. The fastest path is the correct path.
Use rigid protection (cardboard), keep originals flat, avoid stapling through seals, include a cover sheet, and use trackable overnight shipping both directions.
"Speed is important, but accuracy is critical. A same-day apostille is useless if it gets rejected."
