How to obtain the document
An APHIS-accredited veterinarian completes, signs and dates the country-specific export health certificate; it is submitted (electronically via VEHCS with eAuthentication, or hard copy) to the APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services endorsement office with supporting documents and the endorsement fee (amount not stated on pages opened). APHIS endorses only the destination country's required certificate, not the generic APHIS Form 7001 unless that is what the country requires.
Why it goes to the U.S. Department of State
The APHIS endorsing veterinary officer is a federal official; travel.state.gov lists 'USDA animal and plant or animal health certifications' as federal documents.
Format the Office of Authentications accepts
APHIS-endorsed original with the endorsing official's original signature and USDA seal, dated. Do not notarize. APHIS pages opened do not address apostille; contact the APHIS endorsement office for country-specific apostille requirements.
Filing the request
- Keep the document unaltered
Do not notarize it, write on it or remove staples. Originals or agency-certified copies only.
- Complete Form DS-4194
Name the destination country for each document. Download DS-4194.
- Pay $20 per document
Check or money order payable to ‘U.S. Department of State’ by mail; card at the counter.
- Mail or hand-deliver
Mail: U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, 44132 Mercure Cir., PO Box 1206, Sterling, VA 20166-1206. Walk-in: Office of Authentications, 600 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, Drop-off and pick-up 7:30-9:00 a.m., Monday-Thursday, no appointment needed; processing about 7 business days. Max 15…
- Allow for processing
Mail-in: up to 5 weeks from receipt (tracking 'delivered' at the Sterling PO box does not mean processing has started; package takes several days to reach DC). Walk-in: about 7 business days.
Common reasons for rejection
- Certificate signed only by the accredited veterinarian without APHIS endorsement (the vet's signature is not federal).
- Notarized health certificate.
Practical notes
- Check the destination country's APHIS pet-travel page for whether an apostille is required and the validity window after endorsement.
- Hague destinations receive an apostille; others receive an authentication plus embassy legalization.
Non-Hague destinations
For countries outside the Hague Convention the office issues an authentication certificate rather than an apostille, and the document must then be legalized at the destination's embassy or consulate in Washington. See embassy legalization.
Frequently asked questions
Can my state apostille a USDA APHIS Export Certificates?
No. Only the U.S. Department of State authenticates federal signatures. A state can apostille a notarized copy, but many destinations will not accept that in place of the federal apostille on the original.
How much is the federal apostille fee?
$20 per document, payable to the U.S. Department of State. The fee is charged even if the request is returned unprocessed.
How long does it take?
Mail-in: up to 5 weeks from receipt (tracking 'delivered' at the Sterling PO box does not mean processing has started; package takes several days to reach DC). Walk-in: about 7 business days.
Should I notarize it first?
No. Notarizing a federal document makes it invalid for authentication at the Office of Authentications.
