Maryland
VA Benefit Letter Apostille in Maryland
How Maryland residents get their VA Benefit Letter authenticated for use abroad — which office handles it, what the Maryland Secretary of State can and can’t do, timing and price.
Quick answer
There is no federal apostille office in Maryland. Federal documents like your VA Benefit Letter are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Maryland Secretary of State can’t apostille them. We handle the Washington submission; you send the document by mail.
- Authenticated by
- U.S. Department of State
- Maryland apostille office
- Maryland Secretary of State, Annapolis
- Our nearest office
- Washington, D.C. (by mail)
- Price
- $299 per document, government fees included
Why living in Maryland doesn’t change the route
This document is issued by Department of Veterans Affairs, a federal authority. Federal documents are authenticated only by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — the Maryland Secretary of State in Annapolis has no authority over them, and a state apostille on a federal document will be rejected abroad.
So the process for Maryland 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 VA Benefit Letter
How to apostille Department of Veterans Affairs documents — benefit and disability letters — for use abroad.
What the Maryland Secretary of State can do
The Maryland Secretary of State in Annapolis issues apostilles for documents signed by Maryland officials — birth, death and marriage certificates from Maryland registrars, Maryland state-court records, and documents notarized by Maryland 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 Maryland
We serve Maryland by mail from our Washington, D.C. headquarters, close to the Office of Authentications. There’s no need to visit an office in person.
| 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 Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Annapolis and everywhere else in Maryland.
VA Benefit Letter in Maryland — FAQ
Can the Maryland Secretary of State apostille my VA Benefit 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 Maryland?
No. We handle the Washington submission for you. Most Maryland clients send their documents by mail and receive them back by tracked courier.
How long does it take from Maryland?
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: VA Benefit Letter — full guide · All documents in Maryland · 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.