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Certificate of Incorporation Legalization for Arab Countries
Many U.S. companies doing business in the Arab world are Delaware corporations, and their founding document is called a certificate of incorporation. Arab registries, investment authorities and banks ask for it to confirm the company exists and how it was formed. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce obtains a certified copy from the state and completes the apostille or embassy route for your destination.
Legalize a certified copy from the state. The certificate of incorporation is kept by the state that incorporated the company, so the version Arab authorities accept is a certified copy from that state, with no notary. The four apostille countries (Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria) need only that state’s apostille. All other Arab countries need the U.S. Department of State and the embassy too.
What a Certificate of Incorporation Is
A certificate of incorporation is the charter a corporation files to be created. Delaware and several other states use this name, while many states call the same filing articles of incorporation. It states the corporate name, registered agent, purpose and authorized stock. In some states, the certificate is also the official confirmation the state issues once the articles are filed. Either way, for legalization it is a state record that must come from the state as a certified copy.
Delaware certificate
The charter of a Delaware corporation, the most common structure for international business.
Most commonOther states’ certificates
The same charter in other states that use the name “certificate of incorporation.”
CorporationRestated certificate
Combines the original charter and all amendments into one current document.
Current versionCertificate of amendment
A filed change to the name, stock or purpose. Include it if the change matters to the registry.
UpdatesChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where your corporation is registering or investing to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the state → apostille from the same state
Final stepApostille (since July 9, 2026)
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Iraq
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Libya
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Qatar
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the state → apostille from the same state
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Sudan
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Syria
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsCertified copy from the state → state authentication
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsCertified copy → state authentication → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen
Fees for legalizing a corporate charter differ by embassy. We confirm the amount when you order.
How a Certificate of Incorporation Is Legalized
- Get a certified copy from the incorporating stateOrder a certified copy of the certificate, or of the restated certificate if the company has amended it, from the state where the company was incorporated. The original in your files and photocopies can’t be legalized.
- Confirm the name and amendmentsMake sure the corporate name and any amendments match the rest of the file you’re sending, such as the good standing certificate, resolution and power of attorney.
- Certification by the incorporating stateThe same state certifies its own official’s signature. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria this certificate is the apostille, and the process ends here.
- Federal authentication and embassyFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and then the embassy in Washington legalizes the certificate. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- Sent with trackingReady for the Arabic translation that registries, free zones and banks usually ask for.
Common mistakes: notarizing a photocopy, sending the company’s file copy instead of a state-certified copy, leaving out a restated certificate after amendments, or asking a different state (where the company only does business) for the certificate.
Required Documents
What to send us
- A certified copy of the certificate of incorporation, or the restated certificate, from the incorporating state. We can order it for you.
- The corporation’s exact name and state of incorporation, and its state file number if you have 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.
Who asks for it
- Investment authorities licensing a foreign-owned company
- Commercial registries recording a U.S. corporation as a shareholder
- Free zones issuing a branch or company license
- Banks opening corporate accounts
The Rest of the Corporate File
Processing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | Apostille from the incorporating state |
| Notary | Not needed |
| Time | Varies by state |
Embassy countries
| State and U.S. Department of State | Required |
| Embassy fee | By country |
| Time | Call us for your country |
Timing starts when the certified copy reaches us, or when the state issues it if we order it for you. State copy fees, our service fee and return courier appear at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Delaware experienceWe regularly order and legalize certified copies for Delaware corporations.
No unnecessary stepsFor apostille countries, the process stops at the incorporating state.
One corporate fileCertificate, bylaws, good standing and incumbency, legalized together.
Where to Send Your Documents
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
Certificate of Incorporation Legalization: Common Questions
Is a certificate of incorporation the same as articles of incorporation?
For legalization purposes, yes. Both are a corporation’s filed charter, and states use different names for it. Delaware uses “certificate of incorporation.” Both are legalized as certified copies from the state.
Does it need to be notarized?
No. It is a state record. Order a certified copy from the incorporating state, and that state adds the apostille or authentication. A notarized photocopy isn’t accepted.
My company has amended its certificate. Which version do I send?
Send a restated certificate, or the original certificate with every amendment. Arab registries need the current name, stock and purpose.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled certificate of incorporation?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (Algeria since July 9, 2026). Oman and the other Arab countries need embassy legalization for corporate documents.
Can you order the certified copy from Delaware or another state?
Yes. Give us the corporation’s exact name and state, and we’ll order the copy and legalize it in one order.
Registering your corporation in an Arab country?
Tell us the state of incorporation and the destination. We’ll order the certified copy and legalize the whole corporate file.
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
