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VA Letter Apostille

Veterans living abroad use a VA benefit summary letter as proof of income for residence visas. The letter downloaded from VA.gov has no signature to apostille, but it can still be apostilled.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs benefit summary letter, sometimes called a VA award letter, shows a veteran’s disability compensation or pension. Countries with retirement and income-based visas accept it as proof of steady income, and many want it apostilled.

Most veterans download the letter from VA.gov. It is an accurate record, but it is a printout without an official’s handwritten signature or seal, and the U.S. Department of State needs one of those to issue a federal apostille.

The practical route is a notarized copy: we prepare a notarized copy of your letter and the state apostilles it. You do not need to sign anything. If your destination insists on a federal apostille, you need a letter signed by a VA official, which you request from your VA regional office, and that goes to the U.S. Department of State instead.

At a glance

Issued byDept. of Veterans Affairs

VA.gov printoutNot apostillable as is

Notarized routeState apostille, $124

Federal routeVA-signed letter, $119

Common useIncome proof for visas

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Things worth knowing

Date it close to your appointment. Consulates often want income letters issued within the last few months.
Combine with Social Security. If you also receive Social Security, that letter takes the same route. See Social Security letter apostille.
Your DD-214 is separate, with its own routes. See DD-214 apostille.
Translations are often required for Latin American and European destinations. See certified translation.

How it works

Step 1

Tell us the destination

It decides whether a notarized copy is accepted.

Step 2

Send us the letter

Upload or post the letter from VA.gov, or the VA-signed version.

Step 3

Apostille

State after our notarization, or federal for a VA-signed letter.

Step 4

Back to you

Tracked and insured, or scanned for your appointment.

VA Letter Apostille: common questions

Can a VA letter be apostilled?

Yes. The VA.gov printout goes through the notarized copy route for a state apostille. A letter signed by a VA official can take a federal apostille instead.

Do I need to sign anything?

Not for the notarized copy route. We prepare the notarized copy ourselves.

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.
VA, download your benefit letter

Ready to get started?

Send us the letter and the country you are applying to, and we will confirm the route before you pay.

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