The Department of State is responsible for providing authentication service to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on all documents that will be used overseas. Types of documents include corporate documents such as company bylaws and articles of incorporation, power of attorney, patent applications and trademarks, diplomas, transcripts, letters relating to degrees, non-marital status, references and job certifications, home studies, deeds of assignments, distributorship agreements, papers for adoption purposes, etc.

The Authentications Office receives a variety of documents from commercial organizations, private citizens, and officials of the Federal and State Governments. The Office is responsible for issuing certificates under the Seal of the Department of State. It also ensures that the requested information will serve in the interest of justice and is not contrary to U.S.policy.

Please note the following information must be obtained before the authentication process can begin.

1. Signed before a notary public
2. Certified by the clerk of Court of the County in which the document is commissioned *
3. Certified by the Secretary of State of the State in which the document is executed
4. All seals and signatures must be originals
5. All dates must follow in chronological order on all certifications
6. All documents in foreign text must be accompanied with a certified (notarized) English translation
7. Whenever a copy (if acceptable) is used, it must include a statement that it is a true and accurate copy
8. Foreign governments require the U.S. Department of State to authenticate documents in order for the document to be considered legal. Therefore, it is suggested that you contact the embassy of the particular country to determine what documents are needed for transactions

* Item 2 may be omitted if the authority in item 3 will certify directly to the notary

A request for authentication services under 22 CFR, Part 131, should include the reason for authentication and the name of the country where the document will be used. Contact information is below.

Authentications Office (A/OPR/GSM/AUTH) 518 23rd Street, N.W.
State Annex 1
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202 647-5002
TDD: 202 663-3468, Fax: 202 663-3636
or you can email us at AOPRGSMAUTH@STATE.GOV
Process For Citizens and Residents of all other countries

1. Please get the documents attested by the Department or Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country.
2. Take the attested documents and Dutch Consulate and they will Apostille (legalize) it for you.

Secretary and State Offices in United States Dutch Embassies and Consulates throughout the World

To find Dutch Embassies and Consulates, Please click here

Dutch Consulates in Canada: Royal Netherlands Embassy
Constitution Square Building, 350 Albert Street, Suite 2020, Ottawa, ON K1R 1A4
Phone: 613-237-5030, Fax: 613-237-6471
E-mail: nlgovott@netherlandsembassy.ca
http://www.netherlandsembassy.ca
General office hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Opening hours for Visa and passports: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Consulate General Montreal
La Tour Scotia, 1002 Rue Sherbrooke ouest, Suite 2201 Montreal, Quebec H3A 3L6
Phone: 514-849-4247, Fax: 514-849-8250
E-mail: nlgovmon@mlink.net
http://www.dutchconsulatemontreal.org
Open to the public: Monday - Friday 10 am - noon
Consulate General Toronto
1 Dundas Street West, Suite 2106, Box 2, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z3
Phone: 416-598-2520, Fax: 416-598-8064
E-mail: nlgovtor@total.net
http://www.dutchconsulate.toronto.on.ca
Open to the public from 09:00 - 13:00 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Closed to the public on Wednesdays
Honorary Consulate Quebec, QC
174 Grande Allee Ouest, Quebec, QC, G1R 2G9
Phone: 418-525-8344, Fax: 418-525-6705
Honorary Consulate Saint John, NB
1 Brunswick Square, Suite 1500, Saint John, NB, E2L 4H8
Phone: 506-632-8900 , Fax: 506-632-8809
E-mail: whellyc@nbnet.nb.ca
Honorary Consulate St. John's, NF
The Fortis Building, 139 Water Street, St. John's, NF, A1B 3T2
Phone: 709-737-5616, Fax: 709-737-5307

Vice-Consulate Halifax, NS
1959 Upper Water Street, Suite 1306, Halifax, NS, B3J 3N2
Phone: 902-422-1485, Fax: 902-4201787
Vice-Consulate Kingston, ON
115 Lower Union Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 2N3
Phone: 613-542-7095, Fax: 613-5422224
Vice-Consulate London, ON
650 Colborne Street, London, ON, N5W 5A1
Phone: 519-661-0453, Fax: 519-663-1834