Virginia
OPM Annuity & Pension Letter Apostille for Virginia Residents
How Virginia residents get their OPM Annuity & Pension Letter authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Virginia. Federal documents like your OPM Annuity & Pension Letter are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.
Key takeaways
- Issued by U.S. Office of Personnel Management (Retirement Services); apostilled only by the U.S. Department of State — the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia can’t apostille it.
- 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.
- Authenticated by
- U.S. Department of State
- Virginia apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond
- Our nearest office
- Richmond
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Virginia doesn’t change the route
This document is issued by U.S. Office of Personnel Management, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Virginia residents is the same as for anyone else in the country: get the document to us, we hand-deliver it in Washington, and it comes back ready to use.
About the OPM Annuity & Pension Letter
An OPM letter verifying a federal retiree's civil-service annuity, used as proof of income for residency and retirement visas.
What the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia can do
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond issues apostilles for documents signed by Virginia officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Virginia registrars, Virginia state-court records, and documents notarized by Virginia notaries. It has no authority over federal documents such as FBI reports, USCIS certificates or IRS letters.
State offices set their own procedures and fees, so confirm current requirements with the office before submitting a state document.
Getting it done from 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.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | U.S. Department of State apostille | 10–12 business days |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication + embassy legalization | 15–17 business days |
Serving Virginia Beach, Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, Alexandria and everywhere else in Virginia.
Official sources: U.S. Office of Personnel Management — Retirement Services · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia — Apostilles & Authentications · HCCH — Apostille Convention status table (Hague countries).
Virginia state documents (birth, marriage, state court, notarized) are apostilled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Authentication Division · 400 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219 · 804-692-0114 · state fee $10. We don’t provide state-level apostilles. Official page (checked October 2026).
How long does the OPM Annuity & Pension Letter 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 it 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).
OPM Annuity & Pension Letter in Virginia — FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia apostille my OPM Annuity & Pension Letter?
No. This is a federal document, so only the U.S. Department of State can authenticate it. A state apostille on it would be rejected abroad.
Do I have to travel to Washington, D.C. from Virginia?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Virginia clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Virginia?
About 10–12 business days for Hague Convention countries and 15–17 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, plus shipping.
How much does it cost?
$299 per document for Hague countries, with government fees and U.S. shipping included; non-Hague destinations are $399 including embassy legalization.
Related: OPM Annuity & Pension Letter — full guide · All documents in Virginia · Federal vs. state apostille
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.