If you need to use official U.S. documents abroad, they often must be authenticated. In Virginia, this is done through the apostille process — a certification recognized by countries that are members of the Hague Convention. If your destination country is not part of the Convention, your documents will require further legalization instead.
At One Source Process, we simplify the entire Virginia apostille process for you — whether you’re in Richmond, Fairfax, or anywhere in the U.S. or abroad.
What Is an Apostille and When Do You Need It?
An apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents to be used in countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. It certifies the origin of the public document and ensures its legal recognition overseas.
You may need an apostille for:
- Personal use: birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees
- Business use: company formation documents, powers of attorney, certificates of good standing
- Academic purposes: diplomas, transcripts, school records
- Government documents: FBI background checks, notarized statements
How to Get an Apostille in Virginia
The process of obtaining an apostille in Virginia can vary depending on the type of document you have. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Determine the issuing authority
- For state-issued documents (e.g., birth certificates, notarized affidavits), the apostille is issued by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- For federal documents (e.g., FBI reports), the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. handles the apostille.
- Ensure document eligibility
The document must be original or a certified copy and may need to be notarized in Virginia. - Complete the apostille Virginia request form
Some documents require additional paperwork, which we’ll help you complete accurately.
Submit your documents
With One Source Process, you simply upload or mail them — we handle the rest.
