OFFICE OF AUTHENTICATIONS

The Department of State, Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State (22 CFR, Part 131) providing authentication services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used overseas. This office receives a variety of documents from commercial organizations, private citizens, and officials of the Federal and State governments. Documents include but not limited to: company bylaws, powers of attorney, trademarks, diplomas, transcripts, distributorship agreements, articles of incorporation, good standing certificates, home studies, letters of reference etc. It also ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S. policy.

* U.S. Postal Service mail entering the U.S. Department of State must go through a screening process which may delay the time in which we will receive the document.

Authentications Requirements

IRequired Certification for: General Documents
Note: All seals and signatures must be originals and all dates must follow in chronological order.
Diplomas, Power-of-Attorney, Agreements, Bylaws, Transcripts, Deeds of Assignments, etc.

1. Acknowledged before a notary public;
2. Certified by the clerk of court of the county in which the notary is commissioned;(1)
3. Certified by the Secretary of State of the State in which the document is executed.
    (1)Item 2 may be omitted if the authority in item 3 will certify directly to the notary.

All documents in a foreign language must be accompanied with a certified (notarized) English translation. If a copy of a document is used, it must include the statement that is a true and accurate copy.

Documents originating in the District of Columbia must be certified by the Notarial Section of the District of Columbia, located at 441 4th Street, N.W. Room 810A-S (One Judiciary Square Metro Stop), Washington, DC 20001. Telephone: 202-727-3117

State and Local Documents and Court Records

Note: Certified originals: Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates and Court Files (Divorce Decrees, Probate Will, Judgments etc.)

1. Certified by the custodial of those records;
2. Certified by the Secretary of State of the State in which the documents are recorded. The Secretary of State should be requested to certify to the officials signing the document under the impressed Seal of the State.

Federal Agency Documents

Documents Executed by Federal Agencies and Courts of the District of Columbia such as the U.S. Department of Justice, Library of Congress, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Court of Appeals, Department of Commerce, etc.
1. Certified under the official seal of the agency or the Court. (Original Official Signature required)
2. Certified by the Secretary of State of the State in which the documents are recorded. The Secretary of State should be requested to certify to the officials signing the document under the impressed Seal of the State.

Federal Agency Documents

Documents Executed by Federal Agencies and Courts of the District of Columbia such as the U.S. Department of Justice, Library of Congress, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Court of Appeals, Department of Commerce, etc.
1. Certified under the official seal of the agency or the Court. (Original Official Signature required)

Apostille Requirements

Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Only). The Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention. Documents destined for use in participating countries and their territories should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed. Said official must have been designated as competent to issue certifications by "Apostille" (usually in the office of the State Secretary of State of his/her counterpart) as provided for by the 1961 Hague Convention.

With this certification by the Hague Convention Apostille, the document is entitled to recognition in the country of intended use, and no certification by the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office or legalization by the embassy or consulate is required.

Documents requiring certifications with an apostille by the U.S. Department of State are those that have been signed by a federal official with the official Seal of that agency, American Consular Officer, Military Notary (10 USC 1044a) or Foreign Consul (Diplomat Officials must be registered with the Office of Protocol). Note: These documents must include the official's title and his/her signature must be legible. Please also note that the U.S. Department of State will not issue an apostille for State-issued documents.

U.S. Department of State Authentication and Apostille,
Foreign Authentication, Consulates and Embassies

Non participating Hague Convention

All documents for the countries listed below have to be certified from the Department of State in Washington DC, and the perspective embassy. Please note that any document which is not in English must include an English translation.

Algeria
Afghanistan
Angola
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Burma
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Chad
Chile
China
Congo Democratic
Congo Republic
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Cuba
Denmark
Dominican
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana

Albania
Antigua
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bosnia
Botswana
Bulgaria
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji