Documents issued or notarized in Vermont are apostilled by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), Authentication Services (Vermont Secretary of State). The office authenticates the signatures of Vermont public officials — registrars, court clerks, state agencies — and Vermont-commissioned notaries public, then attaches an apostille for Hague Convention countries or an authentication certificate for all others.
Issues both apostilles and certificates of authentication; type determined by destination country.
Where to file
| Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Attn: Authentication Services, 1078 US Route 2 - Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701 | |
| In person | 1078 U.S. Route 2, Middlesex, VT (VSARA building; drop box available) VSARA open Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; walk-ins accepted, no appointment required; drop box on site. No same-day guarantee published. |
| Online | Online only when ordered together with certified Vermont vital records through the Vital Records Request Service (secure.vermont.gov/VSARA/vitalrecords/). |
| Request form | Official request form |
| Official page | https://sos.vermont.gov/secretary-of-state-services/apostille-or-authentication |
How to get a Vermont apostille
- Confirm the document is a Vermont public document
The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), Authentication Services authenticates signatures of Vermont officials and Vermont-commissioned notaries only. Documents from other states go to their own state; federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State.
- Prepare the request
Complete the request form (official form), naming the destination country so the office issues an apostille (Hague country) or an authentication certificate (non-Hague country).
- Submit the document, fee and return envelope
Submit online — Online only when ordered together with certified Vermont vital records through the Vital Records Request Service (secure.vermont.gov/VSARA/vitalrecords/).; by mail to Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Attn: Authentication Services, 1078 US Route 2 - Middlesex, Montpelier, VT 05633-7701; in person at 1078 U.S. Route 2, Middlesex, VT (VSARA building; drop box available) (VSARA open Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; walk-ins accepted, no appointment required; drop box on site. No same-day guarantee published.). The fee is $10 per document.
- Receive the apostille
Processing: not published; check the official site. Expedited: None; include a prepaid trackable label (USPS Priority/Express, FedEx, UPS, DHL) for faster return. Keep the apostille attached and translate afterward if the destination requires it.
Fees and processing time
Fee: $10 per document. Check or money order in US dollars drawn on a US institution, payable to VT Secretary of State. No cash by mail; credit/debit cards not accepted.
Processing time: Not published by the office — check the official page for the current processing date.
Expedited: None; include a prepaid trackable label (USPS Priority/Express, FedEx, UPS, DHL) for faster return
Documents Vermont will apostille
- Vermont vital records certified by the record custodian
- Vermont court records showing clerk's printed name and certification date
- VT-notarized documents
- Academic documents with notarized registrar attestation
- Secretary of State business filings
Not accepted or commonly rejected
- Notary certifications of Vermont public records
- Federal government documents
- Documents issued by other states
- Documents for use within the US or its territories
- Documents concerning US citizenship, allegiance, sovereignty, 'In Itinere Status' or World Service Authority (22 CFR 92.9, 131.2)
Notarized documents
Notarial acts must be by a Vermont-commissioned notary, meet 26 V.S.A. Chapter 103, and bear original signatures. Notary certifications of Vermont public records are rejected unless certified by the legal record custodian. Academic documents need a VT-notarized attestation from the school registrar.
Vermont does not require county clerk certification of notarized documents before the state apostille.
General rules: notarized documents and apostilles.
Birth, marriage and death certificates
Vermont government records must be original certifications from the legal record custodian; duplicates rejected. Vital records plus apostille can be ordered in one online transaction.
See the document guides for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Vermont-specific points
- Apostilles come from the State Archives in Middlesex, not the Secretary of State's Montpelier office
- Only state in this group that bundles vital record + apostille into one online order
- No card payments at all; check or money order only
- Office 'highly encourages' a preliminary review before submission because improperly notarized documents are rejected
- No published processing time
Federal documents and non-Hague destinations
Vermont does not apostille federal documents. An FBI background check, Certificate of Naturalization, DD-214, IRS letter or Social Security letter issued to a Vermont resident is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. — see the federal section. For destinations outside the Hague Convention, the Vermont authentication certificate must then be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and legalized at the destination's embassy (how the chain works).
Frequently asked questions
How much does an apostille cost in Vermont?
The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), Authentication Services charges $10 per document. Check or money order in US dollars drawn on a US institution, payable to VT Secretary of State. No cash by mail; credit/debit cards not accepted.
How long does a Vermont apostille take?
The office does not publish a standard turnaround; contact the office or check the official site for current processing dates. Expedited option: None; include a prepaid trackable label (USPS Priority/Express, FedEx, UPS, DHL) for faster return.
Can I get an apostille in person in Vermont?
Yes. VSARA open Mon-Fri 7:45 AM-4:30 PM; walk-ins accepted, no appointment required; drop box on site. No same-day guarantee published.
Does Vermont require county clerk certification before an apostille?
No. Notarized documents go directly to the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), Authentication Services provided the notary is commissioned in Vermont and the notarial certificate is complete.
Where do I apostille a federal document issued to a Vermont resident?
Federal documents — FBI background checks, naturalization certificates, DD-214s, IRS letters — are never apostilled by Vermont. They go to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications. See the federal section.
