Get an authentication certificate if your document is signed by the following officials: 

• U.S. federal official 
• U.S. consular officer 
• Foreign consul registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Protocol
• Military notary or judge advocate 

Follow these steps to get an authentication certificate from our office:

1. Make sure your document is an original or certified copy
   • A certified copy is a copy of a primary document with a certificate on it that it is the true copy. Make sure seals and signatures are originals. The document must include a date of issuance.
2. If the country where you are using the document requires it to be translated from English, get a professional translator and have it notarized
   • Do not get the original document notarized. 
3. Submit your request for authentication services (includes your Form DS-4194, fees, and documents)

Do not notarize your document. Your document will no longer be valid if it is notarized.

Do:

• Include a legible signature of the official's name, printed name and title, and seal of the agency
• Use agency letterhead

Examples of federal documents that may need an authentication certificate include:

• Animal and plant certifications, or animal health certifications (issued by U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• Federal court documents, and FBI background checks (issued by U.S. Department of Justice)        
• Certificate of naturalization (issued by U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
• Certificate of foreign governments (issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS)
• Certificate of pharmaceutical product or export (issued by HHS)
• Patent and trademark applications (issued by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)
• Certification of U.S. tax residency (issued by Internal Revenue Service)
• Other documents issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, Social Security Administration, or Office of Personnel Management

You will need to get state-issued documents notarized.

To get an authentication certificate from our office, follow these steps in order:

1. Make sure the document is an original or certified copy
   • A certified copy is a copy of a primary document with a certificate on it that it is the true copy. Make sure seals and signatures are originals. The document must include a date of issuance.
2. Get the state-issued document notarized
3. If you are using a county notary only, certify your document by the clerk of court where the notary is commissioned
4. Certify your document by the secretary of state where the notary is commissioned
5. Submit your request for authentication services (includes your Form DS-4194, fees, and documents)

Examples of state documents which may need an authenticate certificate include:

• Birth certificates 
• Marriage certificates 
• Death certificates
• Divorce decrees 
• Probate wills 
• Judgments
• Affidavits
• Agreements
• Articles of incorporation
• Bylaws
• Commercial Invoices
• Copy of a U.S. passport (bio data page)
• Diplomas and transcripts
• Deeds of assignment
• Home studies (adoptions)
• Income verification
• Powers-of-Attorney
• Single Status (Never married or divorced)
• Authorization of agent
• Declarations
• Proof of employment
• Incumbency
• Medical report
• Police record
• Fingerprints
• Financial documents