An apostille is a document that allows other documents to be recognized by countries that participated in the Hague Convention in 1961. It’s a convenient way to travel between countries without the need to reapply for new documents or have existing documents disqualified or not considered.
Why Get an Apostille?
An apostille from the Secretary of State verifies to foreign governments that your documents issued by the State of Virginia are in good standing. It also confirms that the documents were notarized correctly. It’s a good idea to get an apostille if you’ll be staying in a foreign country for an extended period. An apostille cannot be issued for U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.
What Do You Need to Do to Get an Apostille in Virginia?
You can contact the Secretary of State’s office directly. You can also order a copy of various documents and obtain an apostille at the same time in Virginia. However, you’ll need a separate check for the fees.
Processing usually takes up to seven days. The cost in Virginia is $10. Federal documents need to be authenticated by the U.S. State Department, not by the Secretary of State of Virginia.
Documents are issued with either a Great Seal or an apostille, depending on the destination country. It is not up to the Office of the Secretary of State of Virginia to determine which documents need an apostille. That is determined by the particular country you’ll be visiting or staying in for an extended period.
Contact US Authentication Services at Usauthentication.com for more information on obtaining an Apostille from the Secretary of State in Virginia.
