International authentication

US documents, accepted anywhere in the world.

Apostille, State Department certification, and embassy legalization — handled as one chain by agents who file in person daily.

Lead capture · Free & fast

Find Notary Services Near You

Tell us where you are and what you need notarized — we'll match you with verified notary services near you.

No obligation · Free to submit · Cancel or change your request anytime.

Your information is used only to help connect you with notary-related services. Always verify official notary commission status with the appropriate state authority.

190+

Countries served

All DC

Embassies walked

5–10 days

Apostille turnaround

24–72 hrs

Rush service

The authentication chain, explained

Step 1 — Notarization. A commissioned notary witnesses the signature on your affidavit, power of attorney, or copy certification. Step 2 — County or state authentication. The Secretary of State (or county clerk first, in a handful of states) certifies the notary's commission. Step 3 — Apostille OR US State Department certification. Hague countries stop here. Non-Hague countries continue. Step 4 — Embassy legalization. The destination country's embassy or consulate adds the final stamp.

Federal vs. state authentication

Federal documents — FBI background checks, IRS letters, FDA certificates, USPTO assignments, immigration paperwork — must be authenticated by the US State Department's Office of Authentications in DC. State-issued documents — birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, notarized affidavits, corporate filings — go through the issuing state's Secretary of State. NotaSealPros agents process both, often in parallel to compress timelines.

Free · No obligation

Find a verified notary near you.

Skip the search — share your location and document type and we'll route your request to notaries in your area.

Common authentication requests

  • FBI background check for overseas employment
  • Birth/marriage certificates for dual citizenship
  • Diplomas and transcripts for foreign universities
  • Power of attorney for foreign property
  • Corporate documents for international subsidiaries
  • Adoption paperwork for international placement

What to send your agent

  • The original or certified copy
  • Destination country and city
  • End-use (visa, court, university, employer)
  • Hard deadline and any embassy appointment
  • Return shipping preference (FedEx, DHL)
  • Translation requirements if known

Still have questions?

Talk to a verified notary.

Send us the details and we'll match you with a notary who handles your document type.

Frequently asked questions

What is international document authentication?

It's the chain of certifications that proves a US document is genuine so it will be accepted by a foreign government, court, university, or employer. Depending on the destination country, that chain is either a single apostille or full consular legalization.

Apostille or consular legalization — which do I need?

If your destination country is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, you need an apostille only. For non-member countries (UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Qatar, and others), you need full consular legalization through the destination country's embassy.

How long does the full process take?

Apostille-only countries: 5–15 business days, or 24–72 hours with rush. Consular legalization: 2–6 weeks depending on the embassy, with some embassies offering same-day windows for an extra fee.

Can you authenticate documents issued in any US state?

Yes. NotaSealPros agents file with every Secretary of State and with the US State Department's Office of Authentications in Washington, DC. They also walk documents through DC-area embassies for legalization.

Do translations need to be authenticated too?

Often yes. Many embassies require the translation to be done by a certified translator, notarized, and then authenticated alongside the original. Confirm requirements with your destination country before you start.

Ready to book

Find a Notary Near You.

Verified commissions, insured, and reviewed — book across every US state.

Trust & verification

Disclaimer: NotaSealPros is a directory that helps you find notary services. We are not a government agency and do not commission notaries. Always verify official notary commission status with the appropriate state authority (Secretary of State or Department of Licensing) before finalizing any notarization.

Choose your path

Three ways to move forward

For signers

Find a Notary Near You

Tell us your city, document type, and when you need it. We'll match you with a verified mobile or in-office notary — often same day.

  • ▸ Name, city/state, phone/email
  • ▸ Document type & date needed
  • ▸ Mobile notary option
Find a Notary Near You

For notaries

List Your Notary Profile

Get discovered by signers actively searching your city and state. Free to list — commission verified before you go live.

  • ▸ Name, state, commission # (optional)
  • ▸ Services & mobile availability
  • ▸ Counties served, phone/email
List Your Notary Profile

For verification

Search Notary Profiles

Browse verified notary listings by name, city, or state. Every profile is cross-checked against the state commissioning authority before it goes live.

  • ▸ Filter by state & service
  • ▸ See commission & verification status
  • ▸ Contact the notary directly
Search Notary Profiles

Disclaimer: For official license status, always confirm with the appropriate Secretary of State or state commissioning authority. NotaSealPros listings are provided for convenience and are not a substitute for official government records.

Related services