Document Authentications

Documents issued in one country which need to be used in another country must be "authenticated" or "legalized" before they can be recognized as valid in the foreign country. This is a process in which various seals are placed on the document. Such documents range from powers of attorney, affidavits, birth, death and marriages records, incorporation papers, deeds, patent applications, home studies and other legal papers. 

The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar, provides two forms of authentication services:  Authentication of Qatari documents and Authentication of certain U.S. Documents.  Starting May 11, all requests for authentication services must be made by appointment only.  Please visit our appointment system at:

https://evisaforms.state.gov/acs/default.asp?postcode=DOH&appcode=1

American citizens should arrive at the U.S. Embassy at the appointed time and be fully prepared to submit the documents to be authenticated along with valid picture identification.

Authentication of Qatari Documents

An authentication generally refers to the placing of the consular seal over the seal of a foreign authority whose seal and signature is on file with the U.S. embassy or consulate. A consular authentication in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing authority. 

To have a Qatari document authenticated, please first visit the Consular Affairs Section of Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located behind the Bustan Hotel on Ras Abu Abbout Street, not far from the original Movenpick Hotel.  The MFA Consular Affairs Section will authenticate the document.  The U.S. Embassy can only provide an authentication service after the MFA Qatari Consular Affairs Section seal and signature are placed on the document.

Authentication of U.S. Documents

Nearly all U.S. documents, including academic credentials, birth, marriage and death certificates, state and local police records, trademarks, transcripts, articles of incorporation, etc., are issued by state, city, county or other local authorities in the U.S.  To use these documents overseas, each must first be authenticated by the local and state authority that issued them and by the U.S. Department of State before the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Doha can authenticate or stamp it for use in a foreign country.

First, U. S documents must be authenticated by the respective Secretary of State from the state in which the document was issued.  Please visit the website for the Secretaries of State of your state to learn how obtain the state level authentication.  Once a U.S. document has been authenticated by the state in which it was issued, you must then send the document to the U.S. Department of State's Authentications Office.  

After the U.S. Department of State has authenticated a document, a person may bring the entire packet of sealed documents to the U. S. Embassy for further authentication.  The Consular Section will authenticate the U.S. Department of State's seal.  However, we cannot provide this service if the "chain" of authentication has been broken.  Each document package must include the original or copied document, the local notarial or seal, the state seal, and the U.S. Department of State seal.

Finally, you must take the document to the Consular Affairs Section of Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as listed above.  Once the MFA Consular Affairs Section authenticates the U.S. Embassy's seal and signature, your document is ready for use in Qatar.

Please visit the links below for information on how to send a document to be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State:

http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/

http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_701.html

http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/hague_issues/hague_issues_562.html