AUTHENTICATION & EMBASSY LEGALIZATION
Embassy Legalization for Non-Hague Countries
Countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention don't accept apostilles. Your document needs a chain of certifications ending at that country's embassy. We handle every link in the chain, and our DC Satellite Office allows us to hand-carry your documents to the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
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THE FULL CHAIN
One order, every step
Quoted by country
- State certification
- U.S. Department of State authentication
- Embassy or consulate legalization
- Certified translation, if required
Working against a deadline? Our free planner shows every step your document needs and the date to start.
Plan your route and deadline →The legalization chain
- 1
Notarization or certified copy
In Massachusetts, if the document needs it.
- 2
State certification
By the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth (or the issuing state). Federal documents skip this step.
- 3
U.S. Department of State authentication
In Washington, DC.
- 4
Embassy or consulate legalization
By the destination country.
- 5
Translation, if required
Before or after legalization, depending on the country.
Each embassy sets its own forms, fees, appointment rules and processing times, and they change. We confirm the current requirements for your country before anything is submitted.
Countries that require legalization
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| Middle East | United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq |
| Africa | Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Asia | Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand (until February 28, 2027), Taiwan (through TECO) |
| Caribbean | Haiti, Cuba |
Not sure about your country? Tell us the destination and we'll confirm.
These countries now accept apostilles instead
Many guides online are out of date. These countries joined the Hague Apostille Convention and no longer need embassy legalization.
| Country | Accepts apostilles since |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | September 11, 2026 |
| Algeria | July 9, 2026 |
| Bangladesh | March 30, 2025 |
| Canada | January 11, 2024 |
| China | November 7, 2023 |
| Saudi Arabia | December 7, 2022 |
Thailand joins on February 28, 2027. Until then, Thai documents still need legalization.
Documents we legalize
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Birth and marriage certificates
- FBI background checks
- Powers of attorney
- Certificates of Good Standing and board resolutions
- Commercial documents for registering products and companies abroad
Price and turnaround
Embassy legalization is quoted by country, because each embassy sets its own fees and timing. Your written quote shows our fee and any government and embassy fees separately, with an expected turnaround, before we start.
Mistakes that slow legalization down
- Getting an apostille for a non-Hague country. It won't be accepted. These countries need the full legalization chain.
- Skipping a step. Each office checks the step before it, so the order matters.
- Outdated embassy rules. Embassies change forms, fees and requirements. We check current requirements before submitting.
- Missing translations. Many embassies want an Arabic or other translation, sometimes legalized too.
- Expired documents. Some embassies want recently issued certificates. We time each step around your deadline.
Who uses legalization most
Companies expanding to the Gulf
Corporate documents for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. See UAE Attestation.
Teachers and professionals
Degrees and background checks for work visas.
Families
Birth and marriage certificates for residency and family sponsorship.
Exporters
Certificates of origin, free sale and commercial invoices. See Free Sale Certificates.
How long it takes
What to have ready
The destination country
And whether the document goes to an embassy in the U.S. or an office abroad.
The original document
Or a certified copy from the issuing office. We'll tell you which works.
Who will receive it
A ministry, employer, bank or court may each want something slightly different.
Your deadline
So we can plan every step and flag anything that could slow it down.
Official sources
Requirements change, and the receiving office always has the final word. We link to official sources so you can check the current rules yourself.
What clients say
I had a great experience with the service from start to finish. They were very easy to reach online and always responded quickly whenever I had questions or needed clarification. The whole process was straightforward and well explained, and they made sure I understood everything I needed to know. Communication and confirmations were also very clear throughout. I used their apostille service for a document that needed to be sent overseas, and they took care of everything for me. The entire process was quick, smooth, and hassle-free, which I really appreciated. Overall, I’m very happy with the service and would definitely come back in the future if I have any other documents or paperwork that need notarization or apostille. Highly recommend!
Excellent service, consistently reliable and professional. I've used their mobile notary services on several occasions, and each experience has been seamless. Responsive, punctual, efficient, and highly accommodating, particularly when working around demanding schedules and time-sensitive documents. A pleasure to work with and a service I would confidently recommend.
Boston Mobile Notary … provided excellent services that met our scheduling needs on short notice, all for a good price. The agent was very knowledgeable and provided great guidance in meeting our particular needs
From our 600+ Google reviews. Shared with first name and last initial.
Country guides
Step-by-step guides for the non-Hague countries our clients send documents to most often.
Going to a country that doesn’t accept apostilles? Your document needs authentication instead: Massachusetts certification, U.S. Department of State authentication and embassy legalization. See document authentication for how it works.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an apostille and legalization?
An apostille is one certificate accepted by all Hague Convention countries. Legalization is a chain of certifications ending at the destination country's embassy.
How long does legalization take?
It varies by country. Some embassies process in days, others take weeks. We give you an estimate for your country up front.
Do you handle Taiwan documents?
Yes. Documents for Taiwan are authenticated through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).
Do I need a translation?
Some countries require one, either before or after legalization. We check your country's rules and can include a certified translation in the same order.
Can you handle documents from several states for one embassy?
Yes. We coordinate each state's certification and submit everything together.
Do embassies require an appointment?
Some do. Our DC Satellite Office handles embassy submissions so you don't have to travel.
Can you legalize a document for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. We handle legalization for Gulf countries, including any translation requirements.
Sending documents to a non-Hague country?
Tell us the document and destination, and we'll map out every step and the total cost.