DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATION
Document Authentication Services in Boston
Going to a country that doesn’t accept apostilles? Your U.S. document needs authentication: state certification, U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization. We handle the whole chain for you, and our DC Satellite Office takes care of the Washington steps.
Over 20 years in business · Thousands of documents processed · 600+ five-star Google reviews
ONE TEAM, EVERY STEP
Authentication, start to finish
We confirm your route before you pay
- Massachusetts or other state certification
- U.S. Department of State authentication
- Embassy or consulate legalization
- Certified translation if required
What document authentication means
When a U.S. document is used abroad, the foreign office receiving it needs proof that the signature and seal on it are genuine. For about 130 countries, a single apostille does that. Every other country relies on authentication, sometimes called legalization or attestation.
Authentication works as a chain. Each office confirms the signature of the office before it: the state certifies the notary or clerk, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state, and the destination country’s embassy or consulate certifies the Department of State. One missing or out-of-order step and the document comes back, which is why clients hand us the whole chain.
Who needs document authentication
Working abroad
Employers and licensing boards in the Gulf, the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia ask for authenticated diplomas, transcripts and background checks before issuing a work visa.
Marriage and family
Marrying abroad, registering a birth or bringing family on a residence visa usually requires authenticated vital records and a single status affidavit.
Property and inheritance
An authenticated power of attorney lets a relative or lawyer abroad sell property, settle an estate or manage a bank account for you.
Doing business
Companies opening a branch, registering products or bidding on contracts abroad need authenticated corporate records, certificates of free sale and commercial documents.
Apostille or authentication? It depends on the country
| Your document was issued by | Going to a Hague Convention country | Going to a non-Hague country |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (vital record, court record, notarized or corporate document) | Massachusetts apostille, 1–2 business days | Massachusetts certification, then U.S. Department of State, then the embassy |
| A U.S. federal agency (FBI, IRS, FDA) | Federal apostille from the U.S. Department of State, about 10 business days | U.S. Department of State authentication, then the embassy |
| Another U.S. state | That state’s apostille, which we arrange | That state’s certification, then U.S. Department of State, then the embassy |
| Any U.S. issuer, going to Taiwan | — | Authentication through TECO |
Not sure? Send us a scan and the destination country. We’ll confirm the route before you pay anything.
Countries that need authentication
These are the non-Hague countries our clients send documents to most often. Each guide covers the documents, steps and timing for that country.
We also authenticate documents for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Iraq, Thailand and every other non-Hague country. See embassy legalization or the full country list.
Countries that recently joined the Apostille Convention
Several countries that used to need authentication now accept apostilles, and more are joining. We check the current status for your country before every submission.
| Country | Accepts apostilles from |
|---|---|
| Thailand | February 28, 2027 (until then, authentication) |
| Vietnam | September 11, 2026 |
| Algeria | July 9, 2026 |
| Bangladesh | March 30, 2025 |
| Rwanda | June 5, 2024 |
| Canada | January 11, 2024 |
| China | November 7, 2023 |
Source: Hague Conference status table, checked November 2026.
The authentication process, step by step
- 1
Notarization or certified copy
Documents you sign are notarized first, and we come to you anywhere in Greater Boston to do it. Vital records, court records and state-filed company records start as certified copies, which we can retrieve for you.
- 2
State certification
The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, or the state that issued the document, certifies the signature of the notary or official. Federal documents skip this step.
- 3
U.S. Department of State authentication
The Office of Authentications in Washington confirms the state certification, or the federal official’s signature. Our DC Satellite Office handles this step for you.
- 4
Embassy or consulate legalization
The destination country’s embassy or consulate legalizes the document. Some countries add their own steps, such as a chamber of commerce stamp for commercial documents.
- 5
Translation and delivery
We arrange a certified translation if the receiving office requires one, then send your documents with tracking, to you or directly abroad.
How long authentication takes
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Notarization appointment | Within 24 hours, often the same day |
| Massachusetts certification | 1–2 business days |
| U.S. Department of State authentication | About 2 weeks through our DC Satellite Office (the Department lists up to 5 weeks for mailed requests) |
| Embassy or consulate legalization | Varies by country; we plan 5–7 business days to be safe |
| Certified translation | Usually 3 business days, with rush available |
Most authentications take about 3 to 5 weeks in total. We give you a realistic timeline for your country with your quote.
Documents we authenticate
Personal and family
Birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, single status affidavits and name change records.
Education
Diplomas, transcripts and enrollment letters for study, work visas and professional licensing.
Background checks
FBI background checks and Massachusetts CORI reports for work and residence visas.
Legal
Powers of attorney, affidavits, consent letters and court records.
Business and corporate
Certificates of good standing, articles, board resolutions, commercial invoices and certificates of free sale.
Federal
IRS Form 6166, FDA certificates and other documents signed by federal officials.
Why our process is faster
One team, every step
Notarization, certified translation, state filing, federal authentication and embassy legalization under one order and one invoice.
In-person filing in Boston
We file Massachusetts documents directly with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Our DC Satellite Office
Handles the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps in Washington for you, so you don’t wait on the Department’s mail-in queue.
Checked before it’s filed
We review every document against the destination country’s requirements first, so it isn’t rejected halfway through the chain.
Avoid these common delays
- Starting with the wrong certificate. A state apostille won’t work for a non-Hague country. The state has to issue a certification instead.
- Old certified copies. If a birth, marriage or other certified record is more than 12 months old, confirm with the recipient that they’ll accept it. Many offices want a recent copy.
- Names that don’t match. The name on the document should match the passport or ID the recipient will compare it with.
- Translating at the wrong time. Some countries want the translation authenticated too, others translate after legalization. We confirm the order for your country first.
- Photocopies. Most documents must be originals or certified copies. A plain copy can only be used if it’s properly notarized and the recipient accepts it.
Frequently asked questions
Is authentication the same as an apostille?
No. An apostille is a single certificate accepted by countries in the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries outside the Convention need authentication instead: a chain of certifications that ends with legalization by that country’s embassy or consulate.
How do I know whether my country needs an apostille or authentication?
It depends only on the destination country. Choose your country on our quote form or in the Document Route Planner and it shows your route right away. We confirm it again before you pay anything.
What is a Massachusetts certification?
It’s what the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth issues instead of an apostille when your document is going to a non-Hague country. The document then goes to the U.S. Department of State and the embassy. See Massachusetts certification.
How long does document authentication take?
Most authentications take about 3 to 5 weeks from the day we receive your documents, depending on the document and the embassy. Massachusetts certification takes 1–2 business days, the U.S. Department of State step about 2 weeks through our DC Satellite Office, and the embassy step varies by country.
Can you authenticate documents from other states?
Yes. We handle documents from any U.S. state. We arrange the certification from the state that issued the document, then complete the federal and embassy steps.
Do federal documents need state certification first?
No. Federal documents such as FBI background checks, IRS Form 6166 and FDA certificates go straight to the U.S. Department of State, then to the embassy.
Do I need a translation?
Many non-Hague countries ask for a translation into their official language, often Arabic. As an American Translators Association Corporate Member, we can provide a certified translation and coordinate it with the authentication.
How much does authentication cost?
It depends on the document, where it was issued and where it’s going. We send a personalized quote before we start, with our fee and every government and embassy fee listed separately.
Tell us the document and the country.
We’ll confirm the route, the timeline and the total before we start.