Legally, a document issued in Vaud falls under State Chancellery in Lausanne. In practice our standard route frees you from that counter: a notarized certified copy is made from your upload and the apostille goes on it — a copy suffices, whatever the canton. The original only enters the picture if your destination expressly requires the apostille on the original.
Order an apostille →Upload a PDF or photo; a notary establishes the certified true copy (included) and that copy receives the apostille — processed through our Vaud office. Nothing to post, and identical turnaround whether the document comes from Vaud or anywhere else.
Some authorities insist the apostille sit on the original issued in Vaud: we then file with State Chancellery in Lausanne. Send us the original by registered mail after ordering (address confirmed by e-mail) — it comes back apostilled.
Criminal records and other federal documents belong to the Federal Chancellery in Berne, not to Lausanne. Tick «federal document» in the form — we route it.
Documents issued in the canton of Vaud come in French. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Quebec and most of francophone Africa accept them as they are — no translation, no extra cost, one less step. German-speaking and English-speaking destinations will usually want a certified translation alongside the apostille.
Vaud combines a large cantonal university with a federal institute of technology in the same city, and the two follow different routes. A university of Lausanne degree is cantonal and apostilled in Lausanne; a degree from the federal institute is a federal document and goes to Bern. Check which institution issued yours before ordering.