Who issues apostilles in Virginia?

Apostilles are issued by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's Authentications office in Richmond.

How do I get a Virginia birth certificate apostilled?

Order a certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health, then submit it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for the apostille.

South · VA

Old Dominion

How to get an apostille in Virginia

In Virginia, apostilles are issued by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles). Here is the process, the state fee, how long it takes, and what a Virginia apostille looks like.

Capital: Richmond
Governor (2026): Abigail Spanberger
State flower: American Dogwood
State bird: Northern Cardinal

Apostille signed by Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles)

Draft — pending source verification. This page was drafted from the standard Virginia process and the official source linked below. Always confirm the current fee, address, and steps on the official page before you mail anything.

Step-by-step: an apostille in Virginia

01
Confirm the document is Virginia-issued or notarized by a Virginia notary public.
02
If your document is a private document (power of attorney, affidavit, diploma, corporate paperwork), have it notarized first — the Secretary of the Commonwealth authenticates the notary's commission, not your signature directly. Vital records and court documents skip this step (they are certified by the issuing office instead).
03
For vital records, obtain a certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health (Office of Vital Records).
04
Complete the authentication request and identify the destination country.
05
Submit by mail or in person with the fee and a prepaid return envelope.
06
Receive your apostille or certificate of authentication.

Virginia apostille fees & processing time

Competent authority	Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles)
State fee	$10 per document (verify current fee)
Processing time	Mail-in is typically 1–3 weeks; in-person service is available in Richmond.
Mailing / submission	Mail to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentications, in Richmond (verify the current address online). Include the fee, destination country, and prepaid return postage.

Source: Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles) — https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/authentications/Draft — verify fees, address, and steps against the official page before relying on them.

Documents commonly apostilled in Virginia

Birth, marriage, and death certificates (certified copies from the state vital-records office)
Divorce decrees and court orders (certified by the clerk of court)
Powers of attorney and affidavits (signed before a notary)
Single-status / no-record affidavits for marriage abroad
Diplomas, transcripts, and degree certificates
Corporate documents — articles of incorporation, good-standing certificates, board resolutions
Commercial and export documents

Federal documents (such as an FBI background check) are apostilled by the U.S. Department of State, not by Virginia.

Specimen

What a Virginia apostille looks like

A Virginia apostille contains the standard 10 fields required by the Hague Convention, naming the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles) as the issuing authority. Below is an illustrative specimen — it is not a valid document and contains no real data.

See specimens for all states →

APOSTILLE

(Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961)

1.Country United States of America
2.has been signed by [NAME OF SIGNER]
3.acting in the capacity of [CAPACITY — e.g. Notary Public]
4.bears the seal / stamp of [ISSUING OFFICIAL / SEAL]
5.at [CITY / PLACE]
6.the [DATE]
7.by Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles)
8.No. 0000000
9.Seal / Stamp [OFFICIAL SEAL]
10.Signature [SIGNATURE]

SPECIMEN — NOT A VALID DOCUMENT. Illustrative example only, showing the standard apostille layout for Virginia. Contains no real names, numbers, signatures, or government seal. Not legal advice.

Virginia apostille FAQ

Who issues apostilles in Virginia?: Apostilles are issued by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's Authentications office in Richmond.
How do I get a Virginia birth certificate apostilled?: Order a certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health, then submit it to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for the apostille.

Not legal advice. This guide is general information about the Virginia apostille process and may not reflect the latest fees, addresses, or procedures — always confirm with the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications (Apostilles) via the official source above. The specimen shown is an illustrative example, not an official document.

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