Virginia Apostille for Documents Used in Türkiye
Virginia apostilles for Türkiye: the Secretary of the Commonwealth's rules on vital records, court Triple Seal certificates and Virginia notarizations.
In Virginia, the Authentication Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth issues the apostille. Its rules are strict about where a document came from and how recent it is, so most problems can be avoided before anything is posted.
Recent records and the right signatures
A vital record, such as a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate, can only be authenticated if it was issued by the Virginia Department of Vital Records within the past 12 months. An older certificate from the back of a drawer will usually mean ordering a fresh one first.
Court documents come from the Virginia Circuit Court that holds the record and should carry the two-page Certification of Official Record, often called the Triple Seal.
Notarized documents need a Virginia notary, and all seven items the office lists are required from the notary on the certificate.
Company documents are certified copies from the Virginia State Corporation Commission. They cannot be notarized and carry the signature of the Clerk of the Commission.
Whatever the document, it has to reach the office with the proper original signatures and certificates already attached. Documents may be mailed to the office for processing.
The Turkish side
Once Virginia has apostilled the document, it travels to Ankara. Our translators, sworn before a Turkish notary, prepare the Turkish version, and a Turkish notary certifies it when the receiving authority requires that. Acceptance remains the decision of the Turkish authority.
A practical sequence for a Virginia marriage certificate: order a new certified copy from Vital Records, send it for the apostille while it is still within the 12-month window, then have it translated in Türkiye.
Who issues the apostille
| Document family | Competent authority | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Civil status | Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division | www.commonwealth.virginia.gov |
| Court | Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division | www.commonwealth.virginia.gov |
| Notarial | Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division | www.commonwealth.virginia.gov |
| Company | Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division | www.commonwealth.virginia.gov |
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues the apostille for civil status documents from Virginia?
- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division. Birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates must be issued by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records (or a local DMV) within the past 12 months and cannot be notarized; marriage certificates from a Circuit Court need the Certification of Official Record/Triple Seal.
- Who issues the apostille for court documents from Virginia?
- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division. Court records must come from the appropriate Virginia Circuit Court within the past 12 months, cannot be notarized, and carry the two-page Certification of Official Record/Triple Seal with the date and the (Deputy) Clerk's signature and printed name. Federal court documents are not processed.
- Who issues the apostille for notarial documents from Virginia?
- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division. Notarization must be by a Virginia notary within the past 12 months and show all seven required items; the notarization must be in English. Documents notarized in another state and electronic notarizations (eNotary) are not accepted.
- Who issues the apostille for company documents from Virginia?
- Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Authentication Division. Business documents (e.g. certificates of good standing) are ordered as certified copies from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, issued within the past 12 months, signed by the Clerk of the Commission, and not notarized.