A Social Security benefit verification letter shows what you receive each month. Countries with retirement or pensioner visas, among them Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Portugal and Spain, ask for it as proof of stable income, usually apostilled and sometimes recently dated.
The catch is the letter most people have. The one downloaded from my Social Security is a printout with no official’s signature or seal, and an apostille certifies a signature. There is nothing on it for the U.S. Department of State to authenticate.
There are two routes that work. The federal route starts with a letter signed and sealed by the Social Security Administration, which then receives a federal apostille. The notarized copy route has us prepare a notarized copy of your letter, which the state then apostilles. You do not need to sign anything. Which one your destination accepts is the deciding question, and we confirm it before you pay.
At a glance
The two routes compared
| Federal route | Notarized copy route | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | Letter signed and sealed by SSA | Your printed benefit letter |
| Apostilled by | U.S. Department of State | The state where our notary is commissioned |
| What you do | Request the signed letter from SSA | Send us the letter; nothing to sign |
| Our price | $119 | $124 ($99 apostille + $25 notarization) |
| Best when | The destination insists on a federal apostille | The destination accepts a notarized copy |
Not sure which your consulate accepts? Send the letter through the free review with the country and visa type, and we will tell you before you pay.
Things worth knowing
- Recency matters. Many consulates want the letter issued within the last three months. Print or request it close to your appointment.
- Spouses each need their own letter if both incomes are being counted.
- A translation is often required for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking destinations. See certified translation.
- Other pension proof, such as a private pension statement or a VA letter, follows the notarized copy route. See VA letters.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the destination
Country and visa type decide which route is accepted.
Step 2
Send us the letter
Upload or post your benefit letter, or the SSA-signed version if you have one.
Step 3
Apostille
Federal from the State Department, or state after our notarization.
Step 4
Back to you
Tracked and insured, or scanned for your consulate appointment.
Social Security Letter Apostille: common questions
Can I apostille the letter I printed from my Social Security account?
Not directly, because it carries no official signature. It can go through the notarized copy route, where we prepare a notarized copy that the state apostilles, or you can request a signed letter from SSA for a federal apostille.
Which route does my consulate accept?
It varies by country and sometimes by consulate. Tell us where you are applying and we will check before you pay anything.
Do I have to sign anything for the notarized copy route?
No. We prepare the notarized copy ourselves; you only send us the letter.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
SSA, get a benefit verification letter
Ready to get started?
Send us the letter and the country you are applying to, and we will confirm the route and the price before you pay.
Related: VA letter apostille · Apostille for Mexico · Federal apostille · Certified translation