Virginia
Power of Attorney Apostille in Virginia
How Virginia residents get their Power of Attorney 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
If your Power of Attorney was notarized in Virginia, its apostille comes from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond — not from Washington.
- Authenticated by
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Virginia apostille office
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond
- Our nearest office
- Richmond
- Price
- Quoted
Notarized in Virginia: the exact route
A notarized document like this is authenticated through the notary, not the federal government. If it was notarized in Virginia, the apostille is issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond.
- Hague Convention destination: the Virginia apostille is the final step.
- Non-Hague destination: the Virginia-authenticated document then goes to the U.S. Department of State and on to the destination’s embassy.
We don’t submit to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia directly. Once your document has its Virginia authentication, we handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps for non-Hague destinations ($399).
Get the notarial wording right before signing — requirements vary by destination, and a mistake means redoing the whole chain.
About the Power of Attorney
How to apostille a power of attorney for use abroad — properly notarized and certified for federal authentication.
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 an office in Virginia: Richmond. Most clients still send documents by mail — it’s the fastest route to Washington.
| Destination | Route | Our turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hague Convention country | State apostille | Varies by state |
| Non-Hague country | State authentication, then federal + embassy | 15–17 business days after the state step |
Serving Virginia Beach, Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, Alexandria and everywhere else in Virginia.
Power of Attorney in Virginia — FAQ
Can the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia apostille my Power of Attorney?
Yes, if it was notarized in Virginia — a notarized Power of Attorney is apostilled by the state where it was notarized.
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?
It depends on the state step first; for non-Hague destinations, our federal and embassy steps take 15–17 business days after that.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on where the document was notarized and the destination; we confirm it before any payment.
Related: Power of Attorney — full guide · All documents in Virginia · Federal vs. state apostille
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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.