Virginia apostille services.
Get Virginia documents apostilled for use abroad — birth certificates, powers of attorney, diplomas, and corporate records — with each routed to the right authority: the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth for state records, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones like FBI background checks. In person at our two San Diego offices, or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Virginia.
Get your apostille quote
Tell us about your document — we'll confirm the process, price, and estimated completion time.
Apostille in Virginia, handled end to end.
An apostille authenticates the seal and signature on a Virginia document so it's accepted abroad under the Hague Apostille Convention. In Virginia, apostilles are issued by the Authentication Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Richmond.
Virginia is one of the stricter states to file in. It only authenticates documents issued or notarized within the past 12 months, offers no walk-in counter, and — unlike most states — flatly prohibits notarizing a vital record. Filings that miss those rules get sent back.
We prepare, submit, and track your Virginia apostille from start to finish — handling the appointment or drop-box in Richmond — in person at our two San Diego offices or by secure, tracked mail from anywhere in Virginia.
One partner for every Virginia document
State or federal, we route each document to the right authority the first time — and handle the county certification, notarization, or translation it needs along the way.
Virginia requirements
What Virginia documents need first.
Every document type has its own rule in Virginia. Getting it right the first time is what avoids a rejection and a second wait.
Everything must be recent — a 12-month window
Virginia only apostilles vital records, notarized documents, and corporate certificates issued or notarized within the last 12 months. An older document — even a valid one — has to be reissued first. We order a fresh copy or re-notarize so your filing isn't rejected.
A Virginia vital record can't be notarized
Virginia law prohibits notarizing a birth, death, or marriage certificate. It must be an original certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, bearing the State Registrar's seal and issued within the past 12 months — no photocopies or notarized copies. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Notarized & corporate records go straight to the state
A document notarized by a Virginia notary within the last 12 months goes directly to the Secretary of the Commonwealth — there's no court step — and out-of-state notarizations aren't accepted. A Certificate of Good Standing must come from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, signed by the Clerk. We handle both.
Documents we apostille in Virginia
From vital records to corporate filings — routed to the correct authority. Don't see yours? We almost certainly handle it.
Related: Certified translation · Certificate of Good Standing · Mobile notary · FBI apostille
From anywhere in Virginia to done.
Walk in at either San Diego office, or use our secure mail-in service from anywhere in Virginia.
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Tell us your Virginia document
Share the document and its destination country. We confirm whether it needs the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth or the U.S. Department of State, and give you a flat price.
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Send it or let us obtain it
Mail your Virginia document with our prepaid, tracked label — or we obtain the certified copy from the issuing agency for you.
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We authenticate it
We submit it to the correct authority — the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth for state documents, or the U.S. Department of State for federal ones — and track it through.
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Delivered ready to use
Your apostilled Virginia document returns by tracked, insured mail, with a digital scan for your records.
Serving all of Virginia
Use our secure, tracked mail-in service from anywhere in Virginia — with a free prepaid FedEx label, both ways.
Or walk in — two San Diego offices
Virginia apostille questions, answered.
How much does an apostille cost in Virginia?+
It depends on the document and how fast you need it. In Virginia, a certified copy generally must be recent (within 12 months), and a vital record can't be notarized — so we obtain the correct copy. You get a flat, all-in quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.
Does Virginia have a time limit on documents?+
Yes — 12 months. Virginia only apostilles vital records, notarized documents, and corporate certificates issued or notarized within the past year. An older document has to be reissued first, which we take care of for you.
Can a Virginia birth certificate be notarized for the apostille?+
No. Virginia law prohibits notarizing a vital record. A birth, death, or marriage certificate must be an original certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health with the State Registrar's seal, issued within the last 12 months. We obtain the correct copy for you.
Does a Virginia notarized document need a court step?+
No. A document notarized by a Virginia notary within the last 12 months goes straight to the Secretary of the Commonwealth — there's no Circuit Court step — but out-of-state notarizations aren't accepted. We notarize your document correctly for you.
Is my FBI background check apostilled in Virginia?+
No. FBI background checks are federal, so they're apostilled by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC — not by Virginia — even if you live in Virginia. We handle that federal route in the same order.
Can I get a Virginia apostille without traveling to Richmond?+
Yes. Virginia doesn't offer a walk-in counter anyway, so we handle the whole process — appointment or drop-box — for you by secure, tracked mail. We serve Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, Arlington, and beyond, plus our two San Diego offices.
Apostille in other states
We handle apostilles from all 50 states and D.C. — here are our in-depth state guides.
Get your Virginia apostille started.
Tell us your document and destination country — a specialist replies within one business day with a flat quote and a realistic timeline.