What Is a National Archives Certified Record Apostille?
A National Archives certified record apostille is a federal-issued authentication certificate attached to a certified copy of a document from the US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The apostille certifies the document’s authenticity for use in any country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 1961.
Federal Apostille, Not State
National Archives records are federal records – they are issued by NARA, a federal agency. They are apostilled by the US Department of State’s Office of Authentications in Washington, DC, not by any state Secretary of State.
Submitting a National Archives record to a state Secretary of State will result in automatic rejection – state offices have no jurisdiction over federal documents.
Common National Archives Documents We Apostille
- Naturalization records and certificates
- Census records
- Military service records
- Immigration and ship passenger records
- Historical court records
- Land and property records held by NARA
How to Obtain a National Archives Certified Record
Before you can apostille a National Archives record, you need a certified copy from NARA. You can request one through:
- National Archives online portal at archives.gov – submit a request through their online system
- Mail request – send a completed form to the relevant NARA facility
- In-person visit – visit a NARA research room
NARA issues certified copies with an official seal and certification statement. Only these certified copies can be apostilled – photocopies or scans are not accepted.
Digital Submission
If NARA provides your certified record as a digital file:
- Email submission – attach the document to an email sent to info@apostille50.com with your order confirmation number in the subject line
- Upload portal – upload through the secure portal on your order confirmation page (up to 10 files)
- More than 10 files – email directly to info@apostille50.com
If your certified record is a physical document, mail the original to our address with your order number.
The apostilled document is returned by trackable mail, typically within 2 weeks of receipt.
Pricing
National Archives Certified Record apostille pricing through Apostille50:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal apostille fee (per document) | $75.00 |
| Service charge | Waived for federal-only orders |
| Return shipping (US) | Included |
| Total for a single National Archives Certified Record | $75.00 |
For orders containing only federal apostilles (such as one or more national archives certified record documents), no service charge applies. If you add a state apostille to the same order, the $100 service charge applies to the entire order.
The FBI’s own fee for the underlying Identity History Summary is separate and is paid directly to the FBI or channeler – it is not part of Apostille50’s pricing.
How to Order
To order a National Archives Certified Record apostille through Apostille50:
1. Add a Federal Apostille item to your order on the Order page (one per document being apostilled) 2. Select your destination country (this confirms Hague status) 3. Complete checkout – you’ll receive an order confirmation email with upload instructions 4. Submit your National Archives Certified Record by:
- Email to info@apostille50.com with your order confirmation number, OR
- Upload through the secure portal on your order confirmation page (up to 10 files) 5. Apostille50 submits your document to the US Department of State and returns it apostilled by trackable mail
Typical turnaround is approximately 2 weeks from receipt of your documents.
