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Business License Legalization for Arab Countries
Arab ministries and tender committees sometimes ask a U.S. company for its operating license: a city business license, a state contractor or professional license, or a federal permit. These come from many different offices, so the legalization route depends on who issued yours. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce identifies the issuer and takes the license through the apostille or embassy process for your destination.
The issuing office decides the first step. The best starting point is a certified copy from the office that issued the license (city, county or state agency). If that office can’t certify copies the state will accept, an officer can sign a true-copy statement before a notary instead. After that, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria accept a state apostille, and the other Arab countries add the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
What a Business License Is
A business license is permission from a government office to carry on a business or profession in its area. In the U.S. it may come from a city, a county, a state licensing board or a federal agency, and it is different from the certificate that shows the company exists. Arab authorities usually ask for it to confirm that your company is allowed to do the work it is bidding for or registering.
City or county license
A local business tax receipt or operating license from the city or county.
LocalState professional license
Contractor, engineering, medical or other licenses from a state board.
State boardFederal license or permit
For example, an FCC or ATF license. It is a federal document, so it goes to the U.S. Department of State.
FederalSales tax or reseller permit
A state tax registration. It is sometimes requested as proof that the company is trading.
TaxChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the license will be submitted to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the issuing office (or notarized true copy) → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since July 9, 2026)
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the issuing office (or notarized true copy) → state apostille
Final stepApostille
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Iraq
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Libya
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the issuing office (or notarized true copy) → state apostille
Final stepApostille
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Qatar
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the issuing office (or notarized true copy) → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Sudan
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Syria
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State authentication
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsCertified or notarized copy → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen ($120, or $170 rush)
Most embassies charge the commercial-document rate for licenses. Yemen, for example, lists business licenses at $120, or $170 rush. We confirm the current fee with your order.
How a Business License Is Legalized
- Identify who issued itCity, county, state board or federal agency: the issuer decides where the license starts.
- Get a version the state can certifyAsk the issuing office for a certified copy. Some states also need the county clerk to certify a local official’s signature first. If no certified copy is available, an officer signs a notarized statement that the attached copy is true.
- Secretary of StateThe state certifies the official or the notary. Federal licenses go straight to the U.S. Department of State instead. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, the apostille is the final step.
- U.S. Department of State and embassyFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the seal, and the embassy in Washington legalizes the license. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- Returned with trackingReady for translation and submission with your registration or tender file.
Common mistakes: sending an expired license, notarizing a plain photocopy without a proper true-copy statement, skipping the county clerk step when the state requires it, or sending a business license when the authority actually asked for a certificate of good standing.
Required Documents
What to send us
- A certified copy from the issuing office, or a copy with an officer’s notarized true-copy statement.
- Check the expiry date: the license must be valid when the Arab authority receives it.
- 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.
Where it’s requested
- Government tenders for contracting, engineering or services
- Registering a branch to carry on the same licensed activity
- Supplier and vendor registration with large buyers
- Professional accreditation of the company or its staff
Documents Usually Submitted With It
Certificate of Good Standing
Proves the company exists and is active, which a license doesn’t.
Certified copyProcessing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | Apostille |
| State or local license | Secretary of State |
| Federal license | U.S. Department of State |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Example: Yemen | $120, or $170 rush |
Timing starts when the certified or notarized license reaches us. Our service fee and return courier are listed at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Issuer identifiedCity, county, state or federal: we start your license at the right office.
Expiry checkedWe check that the license will still be valid when the Arab authority receives it.
The full tender fileLicense, good standing, ISO certificate and POA, legalized together.
Where to Send Your License
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 License Legalization: Common Questions
Is a business license the same as a certificate of good standing?
No. A business license permits you to carry on an activity in a city, county or state. A good standing certificate proves the company exists and is active. Arab authorities may ask for one or both.
Do I notarize the license?
Only if the issuing office can’t provide a certified copy. In that case, an officer signs a notarized statement that the attached copy is true. Notarizing a plain photocopy alone usually isn’t enough.
How is a federal license legalized?
A federal license, such as one issued by the FCC, is a federal document. It goes straight to the U.S. Department of State for the apostille or authentication, then to the embassy if required.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled business license?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (Algeria since July 9, 2026). Oman and the other Arab countries need embassy legalization for business documents.
Can an expired license be legalized?
It may be legalized, but Arab authorities will reject it. Renew the license first, then legalize the current one.
Bidding with your U.S. license?
Tell us who issued it and where it’s going. We’ll confirm the route before you send it.
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
