APOSTILLE SERVICES · VIRGINIA
Documents Ready for
International Use
An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document so it's accepted in countries part of the Hague Convention. leumaS guides you through the entire Virginia apostille process — notarization, submission, and delivery — start to finish.
WHAT WE HANDLE
One process. We manage every step so you don't have to.
✓ Document review & eligibility confirmation
✓ Notarization when required
✓ Submission to Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth
✓ Courier coordination & tracking
✓ Secure delivery of apostilled documents
Processing times are subject to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's office timelines and are outside leumaS's control once submitted.
How Apostille Works in Virginia
01 · Document review
We review your document to confirm it's eligible for apostille and identify any requirements before submission.
02 · Notarization
If your document requires notarization before apostille submission, we handle that first — mobile or RON.
03 · State submission
We coordinate submission to the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's office for official apostille attachment.
04 · Secure delivery
Your apostilled documents are returned to you securely — delivered to your home, office, or attorney.
Courier Disclaimer: leumaS Mobile & Electronic Notary Services, LLC will not be held liable for any third-party courier failures (i.e. lost package, missed ETA). However, we will cover the shipping costs if you choose to redo the process by paying for the government and admin fees. Booking this service constitutes your agreement to this statement.
WHAT CAN BE APOSTILLED
Common Apostille Documents
Birth Certificates
For dual citizenship applications, international adoptions, marriage abroad, and immigration purposes.
Power of Attorney
For international real estate transactions, business matters, and legal proceedings abroad.
Diplomas & Transcripts
For international employment, study abroad programs, and foreign university admissions.
Business Documents
Corporate filings, articles of incorporation, and business agreements for international use.
Marriage Certificates
For marriage recognition abroad, spousal visa applications, and name change in foreign countries.
FBI Background Checks
Required for many international visa applications, employment abroad, and residency applications.
Court Documents
Judgments, divorce decrees, and legal orders requiring international authentication.
Adoption Documents
International adoption paperwork requiring apostille for foreign country acceptance.
BEFORE YOU START
What We'll Need From You
✓ The original document or a certified copy — photocopies cannot be apostilled
✓ The country where the document will be used — acceptance requirements vary
✓ The purpose of the apostille — immigration, employment, education, legal, etc.
✓ Whether notarization is needed before apostille — we'll confirm this for you
✓ Your preferred delivery method once the apostille is complete
✓ Any deadline or urgency — expedited processing may be available
Important: Not all documents can be apostilled. Government-issued documents and notarized documents are generally eligible. Privately printed documents may require additional steps. Contact us to confirm eligibility before submitting.
GOOD TO KNOW
Apostille Timelines & Fees
✓ Standard processing through the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth typically takes 5–10 business days
✓ Expedited processing may be available — contact us to confirm current timelines
✓ Government fees are paid on your behalf and reimbursed at cost
✓ leumaS service fees cover coordination, submission, and delivery management
✓ All fees confirmed upfront before we begin — no surprises
✓ Vital record pickup can be combined with apostille for a seamless one-stop process
WHAT IS AN APOSTILLE?
The International Stamp of Authenticity Your Document Needs
An apostille is a form of authentication issued by a designated government authority — in Virginia, that's the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth — that certifies a document's origin so it will be recognized in other countries. Under the 1961 Hague Convention, member countries agree to accept apostilles as proof that a document is legitimate. Without an apostille, documents like birth certificates, diplomas, and legal papers may be rejected abroad. Think of it as the international version of a notary seal — but for official government-issued documents.
VITAL RECORD PICKUP · VIRGINIA
We Retrieve Vital Records, Too
Need a certified birth, death, marriage, or divorce record — for your apostille or on its own? We go to the issuing office and handle the request and paperwork for you, so you never have to wait in line.
Why it matters for your apostille: Virginia requires vital records to have been issued within the last 12 months before they can be apostilled. Holding an older copy? We retrieve a freshly issued certified copy so your apostille is not delayed.
✓ Birth certificates — certified copies from the Virginia Department of Health or local registrar offices
✓ Death certificates — for estate settlement, insurance claims, and legal proceedings
✓ Marriage licenses & certificates — for name changes, legal filings, and apostille preparation
✓ Divorce decrees — certified copies from Virginia circuit courts
✓ Apostille-ready records — retrieved and prepared for submission to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
HOW PICKUP WORKS
From Request to Delivery
✓ Tell us the record you need, the issuing office, and key details — full name, date, and case number if applicable
✓ We confirm eligibility, government fees, and our service fee upfront — no surprises
✓ We travel to the office, complete the required paperwork, and retrieve your record
✓ Your record is delivered to your home, office, or attorney — or added straight into your apostille
✓ Many records can be retrieved same-day or next-day, depending on the issuing office
FAQ
Common Apostille Questions
Does every country accept a Virginia apostille?
Apostilles are accepted in all countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention — currently over 120 countries including most of Europe, Latin America, and many others. For countries not part of the Hague Convention, a different authentication process called legalization is required. Contact us and we'll confirm what's needed for your specific destination country.
Does my document need to be notarized before apostille?
It depends on the document type. Government-issued vital records like birth and death certificates typically do not need notarization before apostille. Privately prepared documents like powers of attorney usually do. We review your document first and confirm requirements before proceeding.
Can you combine vital record pickup with apostille facilitation?
Yes — this is one of our most requested combinations. We retrieve your certified vital record from the issuing office and take it directly through the apostille process. One call, one process, one delivery. See the Vital Record Pickup section above for details.
What happens if my apostilled document is lost in transit?
leumaS is not liable for third-party courier failures including lost packages or missed delivery windows. However, if a courier failure occurs, we will cover the shipping costs for reprocessing if you agree to pay the government and admin fees again. This policy is confirmed at booking.
How many copies do I need apostilled?
Each apostille covers one original document. If you need multiple apostilled copies — for example, for multiple countries or multiple agencies — each copy must be apostilled separately. We recommend confirming the number needed with the receiving party before we begin.