Anyone traveling or moving to another country. Examples may be:

• Individuals or families relocating due to a job
• Corporations opening new branches or offices in other countries
• Teachers who will be teaching ESL in foreign countries
• Individuals who need to present US issued documents to Government Authorities in another country

The documents that require authentication (or apostille) will vary depending on the embassy or consulate requirements of the host country. Some of the most common examples include:

• Vital Records: Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Certificates, Death Certificates

• Background Checks: FBI background check, state police clearance, or local law enforcement checks

• Educational Documents: Diplomas, degrees, transcripts, professional certifications, and training records

• Corporate Documents: Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, Bylaws, Operational Documents, Board Resolutions

• Personal or Legal Documents: Powers of Attorney, affidavits, contracts, deeds, and adoption papers

We provide document authentication services for countries worldwide, ensuring your documents meet the requirements of foreign governments, employers, and educational institutions.

Our primary areas of specialization include:

Middle East

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Qatar

• Kuwait

• Saudi Arabia

• Libya

Asia

• China

• Vietnam

• Thailand

 South Korea

In addition, we can process authentication requests for many other countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas depending on their embassy or consular requirements.

The type of legalization your documents require depends on the country where they will be used:

• Apostille → Required for countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

• Authentication → Required for countries not part of the Hague Convention. These countries usually require additional certification through the U.S. Department of State and the respective Embassy/Consulate.

To confirm which process applies to your situation, please visit our [Countries Page] for the most up-to-date requirements.

The type of certification your documents need depends on the destination country’s requirements:

• Apostille Certification – Required for countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. In these cases, a single Apostille seal is enough to make the document legally valid abroad.

• Authentication Certification – Required for countries not part of the Hague Convention. These documents must undergo the full Authentication Process, which may include verification by the U.S. Department of State and legalization by the foreign Embassy/Consulate.

 To confirm which service applies to your situation, please check our Apostille & Authentication Country Categories list.

U.S. Authentication Services takes the stress out of the Apostille and Authentication process by handling all steps on your behalf.

What We Do for You:

• Complete Handling – We manage the entire process from start to finish, including state, federal, and embassy steps.

• Save Time & Effort – No need for you to travel between multiple government offices or stand in long lines.

• Expedited Processing – We fast-track your certification so your documents are ready when you need them.

• For Individuals & Corporations – Whether you’re relocating, studying abroad, opening a business overseas, or handling corporate legal documents, we ensure your paperwork meets international requirements.

With our help, your documents will be properly certified, accepted internationally, and delivered on time

The certifications are obtained by following the State and/or Federal authentication process.

Steps Involved:

1. Submission to Government Offices

   • Documents are submitted in person to the required State Departments, Federal offices, and Foreign Embassies (where applicable) located in Washington, D.C.

2. Mailing to Out-of-State Embassies

   • For Embassies or authorities located outside Washington, D.C., we handle the process by mailing your documents securely to the relevant offices.

This ensures that your documents receive the official seals and signatures necessary for international recognition and compliance.

At UWC Authentication Services, our customers’ satisfaction always comes first.

We provide you with a clear, step-by-step explanation of the entire process.
Our team takes care of all the paperwork and submissions on your behalf.
Since each government agency and embassy has its own requirements, mistakes can easily lead to delays or rejections. With us managing the process, you don’t have to worry about these complications.
You’ll enjoy a smooth, stress-free experience—from submission to final approval.

Don’t just take our word for it — check out what our clients have to say about our reliable document authentication services!

No need — we handle it for you!

Based on the information you provide, our team takes care of all the legwork to identify the exact requirements for certifying your documents.

 Once you send us the required documents and supporting paperwork, we immediately initiate the process on your behalf.
 We make sure everything is submitted correctly and efficiently, saving you time, effort, and stress.

With UWC Authentication Services, the process is simple, accurate, and worry-free.

Yes. Absolutely.

At UWC Authentication Services, we place the highest importance on your privacy and confidentiality.

•  All personal information is handled with strict security protocols.

•  We never share your data with unauthorized third parties.

•  Your documents and sensitive details are stored and processed in a safe, secure, and professional manner.

You can trust us to treat your information with the same level of care and protection that we apply to our own.

Getting started is simple and hassle-free:

1. Contact Us – Reach out with details about:

   • The type of documents you need certified.

   • The destination country where they will be submitted.

2. Receive Guidance – Based on your request, we will provide:

   •  The required paperwork.

   • An estimated processing timeline.

   • A detailed quote for the service.

3. Submit Documents – Once everything is confirmed, you can send us your documents to begin the process.

 For a complete step-by-step breakdown, please visit our [How To Order US Authentication Services] page. This page also includes a direct link to the Order Form.

To begin processing your documents, please include the following in your package:

1. Documents to be Authenticated/Apostilled – Original or certified copies, depending on the requirement.

2. Supporting Documentation – Any additional paperwork needed (specific to your document type or destination country).

3. Prepaid Return Envelope – For secure return of your documents once processing is complete.

4. Payment – You may pay using:

   • ✔ Check

   • ✔ Money Order

   • ✔ International Draft

   • ✔ Credit Card (include details on our official Order Form)

Please review Step 2 of the [How To Order US Authentication Services] page for:

• Full instructions

• A link to download the Order Form

• Our official mailing address

If you are outside the U.S., you have two options for arranging the return of your authenticated/apostilled documents:

1. Create Your Own Prepaid Shipping Label

   • Visit FedEx.com,or USPS.com.

   • Create a prepaid return shipping label to your international address.

   • Print the label and include it inside the package with your documents.

2. Request Our Assistance

   • If you are unable to create a shipping label, let us know.

   • We will arrange the shipping on your behalf and provide you with the shipping rate to your intended destination.

 This ensures your documents are safely returned to you once processing is complete.

No. As per regulations, cash is not accepted for payment purposes. Please do not send cash with your documents.

 Accepted payment methods include:

• Checks

• Money Orders

• Credit Card (by including your card details on our official order form)

This ensures your payment is processed securely and without risk of loss.

Yes. If your documents require processing by the U.S. Department of State or other federal/state agencies, you must include a separate check or money order payable directly to the specific agency.

Example:

• For U.S. Department of State authentication services, checks must be made payable to:
  “U.S. Department of State”

Important notes:

• Do not combine agency fees with our service fees.

• Each agency requires its own separate payment.

• Please check the exact fee requirements of the agency handling your documents to avoid delays.

Yes. To have your documents certified or authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, you must complete the official application form:

• The required form is DS-4194 — Request for Authentication Services.

• You must specify:

  • Type of document(s) you are submitting.

  • Country of use (the destination country where the documents will be presented).

  • Your contact information (name, phone number, email).

  • Return address for mailing back your authenticated documents.

Important:

• Each request must include a separate DS-4194 form.

• All information must be complete and accurate to avoid delays.

• Documents not accompanied by this form cannot be processed by the Department of State.

Yes, you may send documents on behalf of a friend or relative.
However, the order form must still be completed and signed by the individual whose documents are being processed.

• If you are submitting the request for someone else, make sure you:

  • Include the completed and signed order form from the document holder.

  • Provide all supporting documentation required (copies of passport, application forms, etc.).

  • Clearly state the return shipping address (yours or the applicant’s).

Note: We cannot process any documents without a valid and signed order form from the person whose records are being authenticated/apostilled.

Yes. An individual order form must be completed for each person whose documents are being processed.

• Each form ensures that we have the correct personal details, document list, and return instructions for that individual.

• If multiple family members or colleagues are submitting documents together, please bundle all the order forms and payments in one package.

• Return shipping may be combined if requested, but we still require separate forms for accurate processing and record-keeping.

Tip: If the documents are being sent together, you can include a cover note to clarify that they belong to a single family/group.

The processing time depends on the type of documents and the country of use (whether an apostille or authentication is required).

Estimated Timelines

• State-level certifications: Typically 3–7 business days

• U.S. Department of State certifications: Typically 2–3 weeks

• Embassy/Consulate authentications: Typically 1–3 weeks, depending on the embassy

Please Note: These timelines are only estimates. Delays may occur due to:

• Processing times at government departments or embassies

• Holidays or weather-related closings

• Mail or shipping delays

• Incomplete documentation submitted

We work diligently to expedite your request, but the actual completion time is ultimately determined by the government or embassy involved.