Authentication

Some countries require legalization of documents. This process is called authentication. Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must bear the seal of the issuing office, state capitol, then by the U.S. Department of State Authentication’s Office.

The U.S. Department of State Authentication’s Office is located at:

Walk-in service is available 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday-Friday, except holidays.

The Department charges $8.00 per document for this service, payable in the form of a check drawn on a U.S. bank or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State.

Authentications Requirements

Required 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)

For more information, visit the Office of Authentications’ website.