Serving New Orleans, LA by mail
Federal Apostille Services in New Orleans, LA
How New Orleans residents get federal documents apostilled — and where Louisiana state documents go instead.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no apostille counter for federal documents in New Orleans — only one office in the country issues them, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that for New Orleans clients by mail. Louisiana state documents go to the Louisiana Secretary of State in Baton Rouge.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from New Orleans are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — there is no local federal apostille office.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- County
- Orleans Parish
- Federal court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- State apostille office
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Our nearest office
- Houston
How it works from New Orleans
We don’t have an office in New Orleans — and you don’t need one. New Orleans clients send documents by mail, and our nearest office is Houston, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Order online
Tell us the document and destination. No payment until we confirm route and price.
Mail us the document
Ship it by USPS, FedEx, UPS or DHL. We review it against authentication requirements before submission.
We process in Washington, D.C.
We hand-deliver it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, and handle embassy legalization for non-Hague countries.
You receive it
Returned by tracked courier.
New Orleans and Louisiana documents
New Orleans is in Orleans Parish, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Federal court records from there are authenticated federally; Louisiana birth, marriage and state-court records, and anything notarized in Louisiana, go to the Louisiana Secretary of State. See our Louisiana guide for the full breakdown.
Official sources: Louisiana Secretary of State — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · U.S. Courts — Federal Court Websites.
Documents for New Orleans residents
Pick your document for the exact route from New Orleans:
Where are Louisiana state documents apostilled?
Louisiana-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Louisiana — are apostilled by the Louisiana Secretary of State, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the Louisiana authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Louisiana Secretary of State |
|---|
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Check current fees, hours and addresses on the official page before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from New Orleans?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost in New Orleans?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
New Orleans — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in New Orleans?
No. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. We handle that submission for New Orleans clients by mail.
Do you have an office in New Orleans?
No — New Orleans is served by mail. Our nearest office is Houston, a processing office that handles orders by phone and online.
Where are Louisiana state documents apostilled?
By the Louisiana Secretary of State in Baton Rouge.
Which federal court covers New Orleans?
New Orleans is in Orleans Parish, within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.