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Certificate of Merger Legalization for Arab Countries
When two U.S. companies merge, everything the disappearing company held in the Arab world must be moved to the surviving company: branches, trade licenses, trademarks, product registrations, agency contracts and bank accounts. Arab registries make that change only on a legalized certificate of merger. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce obtains the certified copy and completes the apostille or embassy route in each country concerned.
Filed with the state, so it is certified, not notarized. A certificate of merger becomes official when the state accepts it. The document to legalize is a certified copy from the state where the merger was filed. In Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, the state’s apostille completes it. Every other Arab country also requires the U.S. Department of State and the embassy.
What a Certificate of Merger Is
A certificate of merger (called articles of merger in some states) is the filing that combines two or more companies into one surviving company. It names the merging companies, the survivor and the effective date. In Arab countries it is the evidence a registry needs to transfer licenses, trademarks and contracts from a company that no longer exists to the one that does.
Certificate of merger
The filed merger document in states that use this name.
State recordArticles of merger
The same filing under the name other states use.
State recordCertificate of conversion
Changes a company’s legal form, for example from a corporation to an LLC.
RelatedCertificate of amendment (name change)
Records a new company name. Often needed with or after a merger.
RelatedChoose the Destination Country
Choose each country where the merged company holds licenses, trademarks or agencies.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsCertified copy of the filed merger → state apostille
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 of the filed merger → state apostille
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 of the filed merger → 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 merger documents depend on the embassy. We confirm the amount when you order.
How a Certificate of Merger Is Legalized
- Order a certified copyRequest a certified copy of the filed certificate of merger from the Secretary of State where it was filed. This is usually the surviving company’s state.
- One copy per countryEach Arab country keeps the legalized original, so order one certified copy for every country where something needs to be transferred.
- State apostille or authenticationThe filing state certifies the copy. In the apostille countries (Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria), this is the final certificate.
- Federal and embassy legalizationFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and then the embassy in Washington legalizes the copy. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- To your local agentWe send each copy with tracking to you or to your trademark or corporate agent in the destination country.
Common mistakes: notarizing a photocopy of the merger, sending only a press release or board minutes as proof, legalizing a single copy for several countries, or forgetting that a name change needs its own certificate of amendment.
Required Documents
What to send us
- Certified copies of the certificate of merger, one for each country. We can order them for you.
- The surviving company’s exact name and filing state, and the names of the merged companies.
- Your online order for each 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 it updates abroad
- Trademark and patent ownership records
- Branch registrations and trade licenses
- Product registrations with health and food authorities
- Agency and distributor registrations, and bank accounts
Documents Filed With the Merger
Processing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | Apostille from the filing state |
| Notary | Not needed |
| Copies | One per country |
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 copies reach us, or when the state issues them if we order. State fees, our service fee and return courier are shown at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Many countries at onceWe legalize one copy for each country in parallel, each through its own route.
Certified copies orderedWe order copies the filing state can apostille.
The complete transfer fileMerger certificate, good standing, assignment and POA, 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 Merger Legalization: Common Questions
Does a certificate of merger need to be notarized?
No. It is a filed state record, so you legalize a certified copy from the state. That state adds the apostille or authentication.
Which state issues the certified copy?
The state where the merger was filed, which is usually the surviving company’s state of formation. If the companies were in different states, the merger may also be filed in the other state.
Is the certificate of merger enough to transfer trademarks?
Often, but not always. Some Arab trademark offices also want a signed deed of assignment from the merged company to the survivor. Ask your trademark agent, and we can legalize both.
Which Arab countries accept an apostilled certificate of merger?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (Algeria since July 9, 2026). Oman and the other Arab countries require embassy legalization for corporate documents.
How many copies do I need?
One for each country where something is registered, because each authority keeps the legalized original.
Moving registrations to the surviving company?
Tell us which countries are involved. We’ll plan the copies and route for each one.
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
