State guide
Federal Apostille Services in Virginia
How Virginia residents get federal documents apostilled — and how that differs from Virginia state documents handled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026
Quick answer
There’s no federal apostille counter in Virginia — or anywhere outside Washington, D.C. Federal documents from Virginia residents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State. Virginia state documents go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
Key takeaways
- Federal documents from Virginia are apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — not by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Virginia state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We don’t provide state-level apostilles.
- Through us: $299 all-in for Hague countries (10–12 business days) or $399 with embassy legalization for non-Hague countries (15–17 business days).
- Do it yourself: Form DS-4194 and a $20 fee per document — processed within 5 weeks by mail, or 7 business days if you drop it off in Washington, D.C.
- State apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Located in
- Richmond
- Federal court districts
- 2
- Our office
- Richmond
Federal or Virginia document?
| Document | Apostille from |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | U.S. Department of State |
| Virginia State Police check | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Naturalization / citizenship certificate | U.S. Department of State |
| Virginia birth, death or marriage certificate | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Document notarized in Virginia | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Federal court record | U.S. Department of State |
| Virginia state court record | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |
Federal courts in Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
City guides: Richmond · Virginia Beach · Arlington
How we serve Virginia
We have a processing office in Virginia: Richmond. It handles orders by phone and online and isn’t open to the public, so documents come to us by mail — the fastest route to Washington. We cover Virginia Beach, Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, Alexandria and every other part of Virginia.
Pricing is flat: $299 per document for Hague countries (10–12 business days) and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization (15–17 business days), government fees included.
Official sources: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia — Apostilles & Authentications · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries) · NASS — State Apostille Offices.
Documents for Virginia residents
Pick your document for the exact route from Virginia:
Where are Virginia state documents apostilled?
Virginia-issued documents — birth, marriage and death certificates, state court records, and anything notarized in Virginia — are apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentication Division, not by the U.S. Department of State. We don’t provide state-level apostilles, so request it directly from the office below. If it is going to a non-Hague country, get the Virginia authentication first; we then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for $399.
| Office | Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentication Division |
|---|---|
| In person | 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 Appointment required (Mon–Thu) |
| Mailing address | 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Phone | 804-692-0114 |
| Hours | Appointments Mon–Thu |
| State fee per apostille | $10 |
| Processing time (published) | Mail: 7–10 business days; drop box: 5–7 business days |
Source: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia — official apostille page (checked October 2026). Fees, hours and appointment rules change — confirm with the office before you send anything.
How long does a federal apostille take from Virginia?
The U.S. Department of State is the only office that issues a federal apostille. Mailed in yourself, it is processed within 5 weeks of receipt; dropped off in person in Washington, D.C., within 7 business days. Through us it takes 10–12 business days, or 15–17 business days for a non-Hague country that also needs embassy legalization.
| Route | How | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail it yourself | Form DS-4194 + check to the Office of Authentications, Sterling, VA | Within 5 weeks of receipt | $20 per document + shipping |
| Drop it off yourself | 600 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C. — Mon–Thu, 7:30–9:00 AM, no appointment | Within 7 business days | $20 per document + travel |
| Emergency appointment | Only for a life-or-death family emergency with travel within 2 weeks | Same day | $20 per document |
| Through Federal Apostille USA | We review it, drop it off in D.C. and return it to you with tracking | 10–12 business days total | $299 all-in ($399 non-Hague) |
What does a federal apostille cost from Virginia?
The government fee is $20 per document, paid with Form DS-4194. Our all-in price is $299 per document, covering the government fee, review, D.C. drop-off and U.S. return shipping; non-Hague destinations are $399 with embassy legalization.
Government figures: U.S. Department of State — Request Authentication Services (checked October 2026).
Virginia — FAQ
Is there a federal apostille office in Virginia?
No. Every U.S. federal document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia handles only Virginia state documents.
Who issues apostilles for Virginia state documents?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
Which federal courts are in Virginia?
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Do I need to visit an office in Virginia?
No. We work with Virginia clients by mail and handle the Washington submission for you.
How much does a federal apostille cost?
$299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees and U.S. shipping included.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.