Embassy Document
Legalization Services
Embassy Document
Legalization Services
If you’re on this page, you probably want to know how to hire an international document services company to help legalize or attest your personal, business, academic, or corporate documents through a foreign embassy or consulate in Washington, D.C.
If that’s the case, you’re in the right place. We’ll explain exactly how the embassy document legalization and attestation process works from start to finish.
Through easy-to-understand videos and two detailed step-by-step graphics below, we’ll show you how the process works, which documents qualify for embassy legalization or attestation, and the requirements your documents must meet before they can be submitted to a foreign embassy or consulate.
Most personal, business, academic, and corporate documents can be legalized or attested once they have completed all required state and/or federal authentication steps before being submitted to the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate.
Depending on your document type, who issued it, and the destination country where it will be used, one of three document legalization and authentication routes may be required.
Three Embassy Document
Legalization Routes
Route #1 — State Authentication & Embassy Legalization
The first route begins at the state level, where your document must be authenticated by the appropriate authority in the state where it was issued or notarized. In Texas, this is handled by the Texas Secretary of State (TXSOS). Texas does not issue separate authentication certificates. Instead, it issues a Texas universal apostille certificate for documents eligible for apostille processing.
If your destination country does not accept apostilles under the Hague Apostille Convention, your document may require additional authentication through the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) followed by legalization or attestation through the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate. The exact requirements depend on your document type and destination country.
Apostille Texas provides expedited Texas apostille services only for documents eligible for processing through the State of Texas. If your document was issued or notarized in another U.S. state, you must first obtain the required certification from that state’s appropriate authentication authority before we can assist with any remaining federal authentication or embassy legalization requirements.
After your properly authenticated documents are submitted to the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate, processing times vary depending on the destination country and its current requirements.
Apostille Texas files embassy legalization documents only with foreign embassies and consulates located in Washington, D.C. We do not submit documents to embassies or consulates located in other U.S. cities, including Houston, Texas.
Route #2 — Federal Authentication & Embassy Legalization
The second route applies primarily to federal documents that do not require state-level authentication.
Federal documents—such as FBI background checks and documents issued by U.S. federal agencies—may be submitted directly to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications for the required federal authentication certificate.
After the U.S. Department of State issues the federal authentication certificate, the document may then be submitted, when required, to the foreign embassy or consulate representing the destination country for final legalization or attestation.
Although some countries maintain consulates elsewhere in the United States, almost all foreign embassies are located in Washington, D.C.
Route #3 — State, Federal & Embassy Legalization
The third route requires documents to complete all three levels of the authentication and legalization process.
State Authority → U.S. Department of State → Foreign Embassy or Consulate
First, your document is authenticated by the appropriate state authority, such as the Texas Secretary of State.
Second, the state-authenticated document is submitted to the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications for federal authentication.
Third, the federally authenticated document is submitted to the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate for final legalization or attestation.
This three-step authentication and legalization process is commonly required for certain state-issued or state-notarized documents being presented in countries where the Hague Apostille Convention does not apply. The U.S. Department of State specifically instructs that state documents requiring federal authentication must first be authenticated by the state that issued them.
Still have questions about getting documents legalized or attested at a foreign embassy or consulate?
Browse our Embassy Document Legalization Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for clear written answers and step-by-step videos.
9-Step Embassy Document
Legalization Process
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| Contact us to discuss your embassy document legalization needs in Washington, D.C. |
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| Review our embassy legalization pricing, turnaround times (TAT), and ordering information. |
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| We personally hand-file your documents at a foreign embassy or consulate in Washington, D.C. |
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| Tell us the type and number of documents you need legalized and the destination country. |
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| Email or mail us your completed embassy legalization order form to begin processing your request. |
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| We return your completed documents to your preferred address anywhere in the world. |
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| Download, complete, and submit our embassy legalization order form. |
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Mail your original documents along with a prepaid return shipping label or envelope. |
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| You’re so happy you hired us that you refer everyone you know to Apostille Texas. |
U.S Foreign Embassy &
Document Legalization
& Attestation Pricing
You contact us and say you need a document legalized fast at a U.S. foreign embassy in Washington, D.C.
You tell us what type of documents, how many documents and for what country you need documents legalized for.
You download and complete our embassy document legalization
order form.
You check out our embassy legalization services pricing on this page or on our order form.
You email or mail us the completed embassy legalization order form.
You mail your original documents and a prepaid return shipping label or envelope to us.
We hand file your document in person at any U.S. foreign embassy
in Washington, D.C.
We mail back the documents that you sent us along with your certificates to any place in the world that you choose.
You’re so overwhelmed with happiness from hiring us that you refer every person and company you know to Apostille Texas.
U.S Foreign Embassy &
Document Legalization
& Attestation Pricing
Contact us to discuss your embassy document legalization needs in Washington, D.C.
Tell us the type and number of documents you need legalized and the destination country.
Download, complete, and submit our embassy legalization order form.
Review our embassy legalization pricing, turnaround times (TAT), and ordering information.
Email or mail us your completed embassy legalization order form to begin processing your request.
Mail your original documents along with a prepaid return shipping label or envelope.
We personally hand-file your documents at a foreign embassy or consulate in Washington, D.C.
We return your completed documents to your preferred address anywhere in the world.
You’re so happy you hired us that you refer everyone you know to Apostille Texas.
Embassy Document Legalization
& Attestation Pricing
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Foreign embassy filing fees are not included in our service pricing. |
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Receive filing status updates by email or text throughout the legalization process. |
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100% money-back guarantee if we don’t file by your paid turnaround time. |
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Friendly phone and email support seven days a week throughout your order. |
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Your documents couriered to any address you choose (shipping not included). |
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Additional documents legalized at the same foreign embassy for only $275 each. |
Foreign embassy filing fees are not included in our service pricing.
Receive filing status updates by email or text throughout the legalization process.
100% money-back guarantee if we don’t file by your paid turnaround time.
Friendly phone and email support seven days a week throughout your order.
Your documents couriered to any address you choose (shipping not included)..
Additional documents legalized at the same foreign embassy for only $275 each.
