WASHINGTON · APOSTILLE & TRANSLATION
Apostille & Certified Translation in Washington
In Washington State, apostilles and authentications are issued exclusively by the Washington Secretary of State's Apostilles & Notarial Program — based in Olympia, with an Eastern Washington walk-in office in Cheney. Counties, courts, and notaries cannot issue them. The Secretary of State only certifies that a Washington signature, notary seal, or official's authority is genuine; it never translates your document or checks translation quality. So if your birth certificate, marriage record, or single-status affidavit is in Spanish or another language, you will almost always need a certified English translation either before or after the apostille, depending on where the document is headed. Translation HelpDesk provides USCIS-ready certified translations at $0.05/word (most civil documents run $15-25) so your Washington apostille packet is accepted the first time.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Guidance only — confirm current fees and steps with the Washington Secretary of State — Apostilles & Notarial Program (headquartered in Olympia, with an Eastern Washington walk-in office in Cheney).
HOW IT WORKS IN WASHINGTON
Getting an Apostille in Washington
In Washington, apostilles and authentications are issued only by the Washington Secretary of State's Apostilles & Notarial Program — no county clerk or court issues them. First make your document "apostille-ready": a notarized document must carry a complete Washington notary certificate with the notary's original signature and stamp, while a vital record (birth, marriage, or death) must be a certified copy issued by the Washington State Department of Health or the county — never a plain photocopy. Then submit the original document along with the Secretary of State's current apostille request form and the per-document fee, either by mail to the Olympia office or in person. Mailed requests are typically processed within about a week of receipt; the Eastern Washington office in Cheney offers same-day walk-in service for an added fee.
TRANSLATION + APOSTILLE
Where Certified Translation Fits
Certified translation and the apostille are two separate steps, and the order matters. The Washington Secretary of State apostilles the underlying public document (or a notarized translator's affidavit) — it does not translate anything and does not verify translation accuracy. The most common mistake is guessing the sequence: some destination countries want the original apostilled first and the certified translation attached afterward, while others want the translation, together with a notarized translator's declaration, apostilled alongside the original. Confirm the required order with the receiving authority abroad before you pay, then translate — otherwise you may have to redo and re-pay for both steps.
Translation HelpDesk provides the certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) that USCIS accepts, and can advise on whether you need the apostille before or after translation for your specific document and destination.
FEES & TIMING
Cost & Turnaround
Apostille fee: The Washington Secretary of State charges roughly $15 per document for a standard apostille; walk-in same-day service and expedited batch handling cost more (recent figures put same-day walk-in around $150). Fees change, so confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State's website before mailing payment. Certified translation is billed separately by Translation HelpDesk at $0.05/word — most civil documents (birth, marriage, single-status) fall in the $15-25 range.
Typical processing: By mail, the Secretary of State typically processes apostilles in about 5-7 business days after receipt, so budget roughly 2-3 weeks door-to-door once you add postage each way. In-person walk-in service (available at both the Olympia-area headquarters and the Eastern Washington office in Cheney) is generally same-day while you wait, subject to daily cutoff times and volume. Translation HelpDesk returns most certified translations in 24-48 hours, so translation is rarely the bottleneck.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues apostilles in Washington State?
Only the Washington Secretary of State's Apostilles & Notarial Program, headquartered in Olympia with an Eastern Washington walk-in office in Cheney. Counties, courts, and notaries in Washington cannot issue apostilles — they can only notarize or certify the document that the Secretary of State then apostilles.
Should I translate my document before or after the Washington apostille?
It depends on the destination country. Some authorities want the original document apostilled first and the certified translation attached afterward; others want the translation — with a notarized translator's declaration — apostilled together with the original. Always confirm the required order with the receiving institution abroad before paying for either step, then translate.
How much does a Washington apostille cost?
The Washington Secretary of State charges about $15 per document for a standard apostille, with higher fees for same-day walk-in and expedited batch service. Fees change, so verify the current amount on the Secretary of State's site before sending payment. Certified translation is separate — Translation HelpDesk charges $0.05/word, typically $15-25 for a civil document.
How long does the Washington apostille process take?
Mailed requests are generally processed in about 5-7 business days after the Secretary of State receives them; add postage time each way, so plan for roughly 2-3 weeks total. In-person walk-in service at the Cheney office is usually same-day. Your certified translation from Translation HelpDesk is ready in 24-48 hours.
Can the Washington Secretary of State translate my document?
No. The Secretary of State only certifies the authenticity of a Washington signature or notary seal — it does not translate documents or review translation quality. You need a separate certified translation. Translation HelpDesk offers a free 250-word sample and a USCIS Rejection Pledge so you can see the quality before you commit.
I'm not in Washington — can you still help with my certified translation?
Yes. Translation HelpDesk is a nearshore team based in Chihuahua, Mexico serving clients across all 50 states, founded by Victor Luján in 2018. Send your document by email at info@translationhelpdesk.com for a free 250-word sample and a 24-48 hour turnaround, then submit the certified translation with your Washington apostille packet.