The purpose of an authentication by our office is to verify to foreign governments that certain Virginia officials are in good standing. Authentication at a state level is not valid for use within the United States or its territories.

Depending on the destination country, the authentication is issued either as a Great Seal or an Apostille. The authentication only verifies that the Virginia Notary, Virginia Clerk of Court, or Virginia Deputy State Registrar is listed in our system, and they have notarized or issued your document correctly.

Documents issued by the FBI and Federal Courts would be authenticated by the US State Department, not by the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Documents must be properly notarized by a Virginia notary (as allowed by law) within the past 12 months prior to presenting to our office for authentication.

If your document is a Vital record or Court document, it must be issued within the past 12 months NOT notarized.

If the document is not properly notarized by a Virginia notary or issued by the state of Virginia, it will be returned for correction/completion. Please review the exceptions below.

How to Request an Authentication