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Business Letter Legalization for Arab Countries
Introduction letters, employment and salary letters, bank references and no-objection letters are everyday requirements for Arab ministries, banks and visa offices. A letter on your company letterhead is accepted there only once it is notarized and legalized. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce checks the letter and takes it through the apostille or embassy route each destination requires.
A business letter must be notarized first. A letter on letterhead is a private document. A state or embassy can certify it only after an authorized officer signs it before a notary. After that, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept a Secretary of State apostille. The other Arab countries require the full embassy chain.
What a Business Letter Is
A business letter is a formal letter that a company issues on its letterhead to state a fact, request something or authorize someone. It must show the company’s name, logo, address and contact details, the date, and the signer’s name and title. Legalization confirms the notary’s signature and seal, not the statements in the letter.
Introduction & invitation
Introduces your company or invites a partner, often for a business visa.
Visas & partnersEmployment & salary
Confirms a person’s job, salary or experience, for residency or licensing.
EmployeesBank reference
Your bank confirms your account relationship, for registration or tenders.
FinanceNo-objection & declarations
States that you have no objection, or declares facts the authority asks for.
MinistriesChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the letter will be used to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsNotarized → Secretary of State
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
Embassy fees depend on the country and on whether the letter is commercial or personal. We confirm the current fee with your order.
How a Business Letter Is Legalized
- Print and sign on letterheadAn authorized officer signs the letter in ink and prints their name and title. Address the letter to the receiving authority if you know it.
- NotarizeThe officer signs in person before a U.S. notary, or adds a notarized statement that confirms the letter. The notary’s seal must be on the same page as the signature.
- Secretary of StateThe state where the notary is commissioned certifies the notary. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria this certificate is the apostille, and the process ends here.
- U.S. Department of State and embassyFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal. Then the embassy in Washington, D.C. legalizes the letter. For the UAE, the letter goes through VFS Global and then MOFA.
- Returned to youSent back with tracking, ready for translation and submission in the destination country.
Common mistakes: an unsigned or digitally signed letter, a letter without letterhead or a date, a signer who doesn’t give their title, or a notarization on a separate page. A bank letter must be signed and notarized by the bank officer, not by you.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The original letter on letterhead, signed and notarized in person.
- Supporting documents the receiving office asks for, such as a passport copy for an employment letter.
- Your online order for the destination country, paid online or through Pay Invoice.
- A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy one at checkout.
What the letter should include
- Company letterhead with the logo, address, phone and email
- The date, and the recipient or the purpose of the letter
- Full names exactly as they appear on passports or registrations
- The signer’s handwritten signature, printed name and title
Related Documents
Certificate of Good Standing
Proves the company is active. It is a state record, so order a certified copy.
Certified copyProcessing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | State apostille |
| Embassy step | None |
| Time | Varies by state |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Time | Call us for your country |
Times are counted from the day we receive your letter. Our service fee and return shipping are shown at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Letter checked firstWe check the letterhead, signature, title and notarization before your letter goes to the state.
Apostille or embassy, correctlyYou never pay for an embassy step your destination doesn’t need.
All 18 Arab countriesOne order covers the state, the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
Where to Send Your Letter
Maryland office (fastest)
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd., Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 349-1212
Washington, D.C. headquarters
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1, Washington, DC
(202) 347-5800
Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET
Business Letter Legalization: Common Questions
Can a business letter be legalized without a notary?
No. A letter on letterhead is a private document, so an authorized officer must sign it before a notary first. The state and the embassy certify the notary, not the company.
Who issues the apostille for a business letter?
The Secretary of State of the state where the notary is commissioned. The U.S. Department of State doesn’t apostille business letters, because they aren’t federal documents.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled business letter?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (since July 9, 2026). Oman requires embassy legalization for business documents since 2021, and the other Arab countries require the full embassy chain.
Can I legalize a scanned or emailed letter?
No. Send the original letter with an ink signature and in-person notarization. Copies and e-signatures are not accepted.
Does the letter need an Arabic translation?
Usually yes. Arab authorities generally have the legalized letter translated into Arabic locally. Some companies issue a bilingual letter from the start.
Need a company letter accepted abroad?
Send us a draft before you sign. We’ll check the wording and confirm the route for the destination country.
Case 1 Examples
Business documents
Federally Issued documents
Case 2 Examples
Commercial Document:
Case 3 Examples
Personal Document:
Mailing
If you are using FedEx or UPS, please include a self-addressed air waybill for the return of your document.
Alternatively, you may use a USPS Priority Mail envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number.
If you do not have a FedEx or UPS account, you can purchase an air waybill through this site in the next step.
Arab American Chamber of Commerce Headquarter Office
1330 New Hampshire Ave. NW, B1Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 347-5800
1 888-939-ARAB
Arab Chamber of Commerce
1615 Bay Head Rd.Annapolis MD, 21409
(410) 349 - 1212
