District of Columbia
DC ONCA
Eligible DC notary, DC government department-head, and certain DC Superior Court signatures. ONCA does not authenticate federal or out-of-state documents and does not notarize documents.
APOSTILLE FOR CHINA · WASHINGTON, DC & DMV
Washington, DC Apostille Service for Documents Used in China
Private mail-in review, authority routing, submission, tracking, and secure return assistance for eligible DC, federal, Maryland, and Virginia documents.
No walk-in office in Washington, DC. Create an order before mailing originals.
China Apostille Convention update
The Apostille Convention entered into force for the People's Republic of China on November 7, 2023. For many eligible U.S. public documents used in mainland China, an Apostille replaced the former consular legalization chain. Always confirm the receiving institution's current requirements.
DC · FEDERAL · MARYLAND · VIRGINIA
Four document origins, four different paths
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
Documents we can review for Apostille preparation
Vital and family records
Birth, marriage, death, divorce, adoption, name-change, single-status, and family records.
Start an OrderEducation records
Diplomas, transcripts, enrollment letters, degrees, certificates, and registrar statements.
Start an OrderFederal and FBI records
FBI Identity History Summary and other eligible federal agency documents.
Start an OrderBusiness and legal records
Powers of attorney, affidavits, corporate filings, certificates, contracts, and court records.
Start an OrderProfessional and personal records
Professional licenses, medical letters, employment letters, and notarized copies where legally eligible.
Start an OrderTranslation planning
Review of recipient translation requirements; Apostille and translation are separate questions.
Start an OrderA clear seven-step mail-in process
- 1
Identify the document
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 2
Determine the authority
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 3
Prepare the correct document
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 4
Create an order
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 5
Follow case mailing instructions
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 6
Review, submission and tracking
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
- 7
Secure return shipping
The issuing office, signature, and notarizing jurisdiction—not where you live—determine the competent authority.
Universities and schools across the DMV
School records require institution-specific preparation. Listing an institution does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- American University
- Howard University
- Catholic University of America
- Gallaudet University
- University of Maryland
- Johns Hopkins SAIS
- George Mason University
- Marymount University
Transparent service levels
Private service fee per document. Government, notary, translation, courier, and other third-party fees are separate. Timing begins after complete eligible documents are received and is not guaranteed.
Standard
$200about 2 weeks · per documentStart an OrderExpedited
$280about 1 week · per documentStart an OrderExpress
$380about 3 days · per documentStart an Order$25 flat return shipping per order
Washington, DC & DMV service areas
Browse real jurisdictions and communities without confusing neighborhoods, CDPs, counties, or Virginia independent cities.
- Downtown DC
- Chinatown DC
- Penn Quarter
- Mount Vernon Square
- Logan Circle
- Dupont Circle
- Foggy Bottom
- West End
- Georgetown
- Glover Park
- Cleveland Park
- Woodley Park
- Tenleytown
- Friendship Heights (DC)
- Cathedral Heights
- Adams Morgan
- Columbia Heights
- Mount Pleasant
- U Street Corridor
- Shaw
- Bloomingdale
- Brookland
- NoMa
- Capitol Hill
- Eastern Market
- Navy Yard
- Southwest Waterfront
- The Wharf
- Anacostia
- Congress Heights
- Petworth
- Takoma (DC)
- Chevy Chase (DC)
- Palisades
- Spring Valley
- American University Park
- Van Ness
- Forest Hills
- Kalorama
- Embassy Row
- Silver Spring
- Bethesda
- Rockville
- Gaithersburg
- Germantown
- Wheaton
- Takoma Park
- Kensington
- Chevy Chase (Maryland)
- Friendship Heights (Maryland)
- Potomac
- North Bethesda
- Aspen Hill
- Olney
- Burtonsville
- Clarksburg
- College Park
- Greenbelt
- Hyattsville
- Bowie
- Laurel
- Bladensburg
- Riverdale Park
- New Carrollton
- Largo
- Upper Marlboro
- Oxon Hill
- National Harbor
- Suitland
- Temple Hills
- Fort Washington
- Arlington
- Rosslyn
- Courthouse
- Clarendon
- Ballston
- Crystal City
- Pentagon City
- Shirlington
- Columbia Pike
- Tysons
- McLean
- Reston
- Herndon
- Annandale
- Springfield
- Vienna
- Great Falls
- Centreville
- Chantilly
- Burke
- Franconia
- Fairfax County portions of Alexandria and Falls Church mailing areas
- Ashburn
- Leesburg
- Sterling
- South Riding
- Brambleton
- Purcellville
- Woodbridge
- Dale City
- Lake Ridge
- Gainesville
- Haymarket
- Dumfries
- City of Alexandria
- City of Fairfax
- City of Falls Church
- City of Manassas
- City of Manassas Park
- Charles County, Maryland
- Frederick County, Maryland
- Calvert County, Maryland
- Stafford County, Virginia
- Fauquier County, Virginia
- Clarke County, Virginia
- Culpeper County, Virginia
- Warren County, Virginia
- Jefferson County, West Virginia
Washington, DC Apostille questions
Confirm the receiving requirements, obtain an eligible original or certified copy, create an order, and follow the case-specific mailing instructions. Eligible DC signatures generally use DC ONCA.
The DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications handles eligible DC signatures. It does not handle federal or out-of-state documents.
No. The document origin and signature control the path. Federal and FBI records use the U.S. Department of State; Maryland, Virginia, and other-state records return to their jurisdiction.
No. ONCA authenticates eligible signatures but does not provide notarization.
Eligible FBI Identity History Summary results generally use the U.S. Department of State—not DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
Maryland generally requires Circuit Court Clerk certification in the county where the notary is commissioned before Secretary of State certification.
Embassy and government clarification
We are not affiliated with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, any consulate, DC government, a Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State, a court, or a university. An Apostille authenticates the origin of a signature or seal; it does not certify the document's contents or guarantee acceptance.
Start an Order
No walk-in office in Washington, DC. Create an order before mailing originals.