Virginia apostilles are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Richmond, not by a Secretary of State. The title differs from most states, and paperwork addressed to a “Virginia Secretary of State” is a common cause of delay.
If your document was issued in Virginia, or notarized by a Virginia-commissioned notary, Virginia certifies it wherever you live now. Northern Virginia sits across the river from Washington, D.C., and that closeness produces the mistake we see most here: a federal document does not go to Richmond. An FBI check or a federal court record goes to the U.S. Department of State instead.
Virginia vital records come from the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, or from the circuit court clerk for marriage and divorce records. What gets apostilled is a certified copy carrying the seal.
Virginia also allows remote online notarization, which it was among the first states to authorise. A document notarized that way can be apostilled, but the certificate has to show it correctly, and not every destination accepts one. Tell us if yours was notarized online so we can check before submitting rather than after.
At a glance
Our addresses in Virginia
- 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201
Please don’t post documents to these addresses. Mail-in orders go to the address in your booking confirmation, and we’ll confirm it before you send anything.
Virginia documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | VA Division of Vital Records | Not required |
| Marriage certificate | Circuit court clerk | Not required |
| Death certificate | VA Division of Vital Records | Not required |
| Divorce decree | Circuit court clerk | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney | You | Required, Virginia notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Corporate records | VA State Corporation Commission | Depends on the document |
| FBI background check | FBI | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Virginia-specific things worth knowing
- It is the Secretary of the Commonwealth, not a Secretary of State. Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania all use the Commonwealth title, and documents addressed the usual way get delayed.
- Remote online notarization is allowed here and can be apostilled, but some destinations refuse it. Say so when you book and we will confirm before the fee is paid.
- Being minutes from D.C. does not make a document federal. Who issued it decides. A Virginia notary means Richmond; a federal agency means the U.S. Department of State.
- Marriage and divorce records come from the circuit court clerk in the relevant county or city, not from Vital Records.
- Virginia’s independent cities are not part of any county, which trips up record requests. If you are unsure which office holds your record, we can retrieve it for you.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, or book a mobile notary who travels to you anywhere in Virginia. We can also retrieve a certified copy.
Step 2
We check it first
We confirm the copy is certified and correctly sealed, and that any online notarization will be accepted, before submitting.
Step 3
Secretary of the Commonwealth apostille
We submit to Richmond and pay the state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
Virginia Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in Virginia?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth in Richmond. Virginia does not have a Secretary of State, so documents addressed that way have nowhere to land.
Can a document notarized online be apostilled?
In Virginia, yes. Virginia was an early adopter of remote online notarization and the Commonwealth will apostille one. The caveat is at the other end: some foreign authorities refuse remote notarizations. Tell us the destination and we will check before submitting.
My document is federal but I live in Virginia. Where does it go?
To the U.S. Department of State, not Richmond. An FBI check, IRS letter or federal court record is federal regardless of where you live. See federal apostille.
Do you have an office I can visit in Virginia?
We hold an address in Arlington, but we are not taking documents in person there yet. Post your document in or book a mobile notary who comes to you.
How long does a Virginia apostille take?
Typically four to seven business days once we have a correct document, plus shipping. See processing times.
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.
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth, authentications · Virginia Division of Vital Records
Ready to get started?
Book online for an exact price, including the Virginia state fee.
Related: Washington, D.C. apostille · Maryland apostille · Federal apostille · Processing times