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Company Bylaws Legalization for Arab Countries
When an Arab ministry, free zone or bank asks a U.S. company for its “articles of association”, it usually wants the bylaws (or, for an LLC, the operating agreement) along with the state charter. Bylaws are internal documents that no government office keeps, so they need a different legalization route. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce prepares the certification and completes the apostille or embassy process.
Bylaws aren’t a state record. The state has no copy to certify, so the company’s secretary (or an LLC manager) signs a certificate that the bylaws are a true and current copy before a notary. That notarized certificate then follows the usual route: a state apostille for Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, or the full embassy chain for the other Arab countries.
What Company Bylaws Are
Bylaws are a corporation’s internal rules. They cover how directors are elected, how meetings are held, who the officers are and how decisions are made. LLCs have the same thing in their operating agreement. Unlike the articles of incorporation, bylaws are never filed with the state. Arab authorities read them to confirm who controls the company and who may sign for it.
Corporate bylaws
The internal rules of a corporation, adopted by its board.
CorporationAmended & restated bylaws
The current version after changes. Send this version, not an outdated one.
Current versionLLC operating agreement
The LLC equivalent of bylaws. It is legalized the same way.
LLCSecretary’s certificate
The notarized certificate confirming the bylaws are true and current. It is what makes them legalizable.
Key documentChoose the Destination Country
Choose the country where the bylaws will be filed to start your order.
Country
U.S. steps
Final step
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since July 9, 2026)
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEgyptian Embassy or consulate
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Iraq
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Jordan
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Kuwait
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Lebanon
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Libya
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Oman (business documents since 2021)
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepPalestinian legalization arranged by our team
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Qatar
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state apostille
Final stepApostille (since December 2022)
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Sudan
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Syria
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Tunisia
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state authentication
Final stepUAE Embassy (through VFS Global), then MOFA in the UAE
U.S. stepsSecretary’s certificate, notarized → state → U.S. Department of State
Final stepEmbassy of Yemen
Embassy fees for corporate documents depend on the country. We confirm the amount with your order.
How Company Bylaws Are Legalized
- Use the current versionPrint the bylaws (or operating agreement) currently in force, including the latest amendments.
- Attach a secretary’s certificateThe corporate secretary, or for an LLC a manager or member, signs a certificate stating that the attached bylaws are a true, complete and current copy. They sign it in person before a notary.
- Secretary of StateThe state where the notary is commissioned certifies the notary. For Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria, this apostille completes the process.
- Federal and embassy stepsFor embassy countries, the U.S. Department of State certifies the state seal, and then the embassy in Washington legalizes the bylaws. For the UAE, it goes through VFS Global, then MOFA.
- Ready for translationReturned with tracking. Arab registries generally need a certified Arabic translation, prepared locally.
Common mistakes: asking the Secretary of State for a certified copy of the bylaws (the state doesn’t have one), notarizing only the last page without a certificate covering the whole document, sending outdated bylaws, or a certificate signed by someone who isn’t the secretary or an authorized officer.
Required Documents
What to send us
- The current bylaws or operating agreement, with the notarized secretary’s certificate attached and the pages kept together.
- The state-certified articles, if the registry wants both. We legalize them together.
- 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 secretary’s certificate says
- The company’s exact name and state of formation
- That the attached bylaws are true, complete and in force today
- The date they were adopted or last amended
- The secretary’s name and title, and a signature made before the notary
The Rest of the Corporate File
Articles of Incorporation
The state-filed charter. Together with the bylaws, it answers a request for “articles of association.”
Certified copyCertificate of Incumbency
Names the current officers. It is often issued by the same secretary.
NotarizedProcessing Time and Fees
Apostille countries
| Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, Algeria | State apostille |
| Secretary’s certificate | Notarized |
| 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 your certified, notarized bylaws reach us. Our service fee and return courier are listed at checkout.
Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?
Certificate draftedWe can provide the secretary’s certificate wording, so your notary has nothing to work out.
Only the route you needApostille destinations stop at the state.
Bylaws plus the charterWe legalize bylaws, articles and incumbency together in one order.
Where to Send Your Bylaws
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
Company Bylaws Legalization: Common Questions
Can the Secretary of State certify my bylaws?
No. Bylaws are never filed with the state, so it has nothing to certify. Your corporate secretary signs a notarized certificate confirming the bylaws, and the state then certifies the notary.
What is a secretary’s certificate?
A short statement signed by the corporate secretary, or another authorized officer, confirming that the attached bylaws are a true, complete and current copy. It is signed before a notary.
Is an LLC operating agreement legalized the same way?
Yes. A manager or member certifies the operating agreement before a notary, and it then follows the same route as corporate bylaws.
Which Arab countries accept apostilled bylaws?
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain and Algeria (Algeria since July 9, 2026). Oman and the other Arab countries need embassy legalization for corporate documents.
An Arab registry asked for our “articles of association.” What should we send?
For a U.S. corporation, send the state-certified articles of incorporation and the certified bylaws. For an LLC, send the articles of organization and the certified operating agreement.
Asked for your “articles of association”?
Tell us the destination. We’ll send the certificate wording and legalize your bylaws and charter together.
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
