Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications is the verified Virginia authority. The captured fee is $10 for the first document; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official for the same country and date grouping. Open the official page before sending an original record because document preparation and delivery rules depend on the record type.
Virginia apostille fee and official authority
- Responsible authority
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications
- Current fee
- $10 for the first document; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official for the same country and date grouping
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia (VA)
- Official service page
- https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/official-documents/authentications/ ↗
- Official form or fee page
- Use the request materials linked by the official service page
- Submission channels
- Mail or in-person service under the Virginia instructions
- Issuer
- Public authority listed above
What the Virginia authority can authenticate
The Virginia authority must be able to verify the Virginia notary or public official signature.
An apostille does not certify that the underlying statements are true. It certifies the origin of the public signature or seal for international use under the applicable process.
Virginia apostille fee, payment, and exceptions
| Item | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Base fee | $10 for the first document; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official for the same country and date grouping |
| Payment | Use the payment method accepted by the Secretary of the Commonwealth |
| Important exception | The $5 additional-document rate applies only when the request meets the office’s same-official and grouping conditions. |
Separate signers or destination-country groupings can restart the $10 first-document fee.
How to prepare the request
- Confirm the issuing jurisdiction.Use this route only when the signature, seal, or public record is within Virginia authority.
- Confirm the destination country.Check whether the receiving country participates in the Hague Apostille Convention or requires authentication/legalization.
- Prepare the record correctly.Follow the official page for original, certified-copy, notarization, county-certification, or translation requirements.
- Include the exact fee and return method.Use the verified fee above and the payment method accepted by the public office.
- Submit through an official channel.Mail or in-person service under the Virginia instructions.
Conditions and limitations to check before submission
- The Virginia authority must be able to verify the Virginia notary or public official signature.
- The $5 additional-document rate applies only when the request meets the office’s same-official and grouping conditions.
- Separate signers or destination-country groupings can restart the $10 first-document fee.
- The destination authority can impose translation, recency, or document-format requirements even after an apostille is issued.
Source verification
The authority, fee, and state-specific conditions are tied to public sources.
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — AuthenticationsVirginia apostille fee, authority, and service instructionsOfficial source ↗
- National Association of Secretaries of StateState apostille and document-authentication directorynass.org ↗
- U.S. Department of StateFederal document and Hague-destination guidancetravel.state.gov ↗
The page records the official fee and key service conditions. The responsible authority’s live page controls current counter access, processing capacity, forms, and payment availability.
Virginia apostille answers
Who issues apostilles for Virginia?
The verified authority is Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Authentications.
How much does a Virginia apostille cost?
The captured official fee is $10 for the first document; $5 for each additional document signed by the same official for the same country and date grouping
Can SecretaryOfStateUSA.com issue a Virginia apostille?
No. This private directory only links to the responsible public authority.
Does a federal document use the Virginia apostille process?
No. U.S. federal documents generally require a federal authentication authority rather than a state office.
Do I need an apostille or authentication certificate?
An apostille is used for a destination participating in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention; a non-Hague destination can require authentication or legalization instead.