Authentications

This page explains how to get authentication and authorization for NC documents that are not covered by the Hague Convention.

Authentication and Authority Certificates are for: NC documents intended for countries that are NOT member states of the Hague Convention.

How is this handled differently from an Apostille?

The documents must go through additional authentication by the US State Department’s Office So it’s an additional level of paperwork you’ll have to go through when doing Authentication and Authority Certificates.

The role of the US State Department’s Office of Authorizations is:

“The Department of State, Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. Department of State (22 CFR, Part 131) providing authentication services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on documents that will be used overseas.” (Source: Office of Authentications (state.gov))

These NC documents must be in English. If they are not in English, they must be a certified or notarized English translation of the document.

Get the document notarized by doing the following:

These are different types of notarized documents.

• Notarize your document in front of a notary public. For example, a Power of Attorney (POA) must be notarized.

• Get a certified copy which is notarized by the issuing entity. For example, a university diploma needs to be authenticated. The issuing university would supply a notarized copy of the diploma.

• If your notary is commissioned by the state, certify your document with the NC SOS.

All seals and signatures must be originals.

Documents from the following entities will NOT need to be notarized:

• Register of Deeds

• Clerk of Superior Courts

• NC Department of Agriculture

• NC Department of Health and Human Services

• NC Vital Records

• NC Department of Motor Vehicles (Raleigh, NC office ONLY)