Egypt Embassy Legalization for U.S. Documents

Egypt authorities, customs and banks accept a U.S. document only after it completes the legalization chain. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce handles every step for companies and individuals: notary checks, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, the chamber stamp and the Embassy of Egypt.

Start Your Order (202) 347-5800

Egypt does not accept apostilles. Egypt is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Every U.S. document is authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and then legalized by the Embassy of Egypt, or by the Egypt consulate that covers the state where the document was issued.

Start here

Choose Your Case: 1, 2, 3 or 4

Choose the order for your type of document. Each order already follows the Egypt route.

Case 1

Business legal document to be authenticated

Powers of attorney, good standing, articles, agreements, board resolutions and federal certificates (FDA, USDA, USPTO).

Secretary of State · U.S. Dept. of State · Embassy of Egypt Start Order

Case 2

Invoice and certificate of origin certification

Export documents for Egypt customs and banks: certified by the chamber, then legalized by the embassy.

Chamber stamp + Embassy of Egypt Start Order

Case 3

Obtaining the stamp of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce

The chamber stamp alone, when your Egypt buyer doesn't need embassy legalization.

$35 per document · Same day Start Order

Case 4

Personal document to be authenticated

Birth and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, diplomas and transcripts, FBI background checks and personal powers of attorney.

Secretary of State · U.S. Dept. of State · Embassy of Egypt Start Order

Egypt document legalization

What Legalization Confirms, and What It Doesn't

Legalization doesn't check what your document says. Each office confirms that the signature and seal of the office before it are genuine. The Embassy of Egypt confirms the last one, the U.S. Department of State's seal. If one step is missing, the chain breaks and the document comes back.

The legalization process

The Legalization Process by the Egypt Embassy

Where a document starts depends on who issued or signed it. Every route ends at the Embassy of Egypt.

Your document

U.S. steps

Final step

Signed by you or your company (POA, affidavit, resolution, agreement)

U.S. stepsIn-person notary → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State

Final stepEmbassy of Egypt

Issued by a state (birth, marriage, good standing, articles)

U.S. stepsCertified copy (no notary) → Secretary of State → U.S. Department of State

Final stepEmbassy of Egypt

Issued by a federal agency (FDA, USDA, USPTO, FBI)

U.S. stepsOriginal document → U.S. Department of State

Final stepEmbassy of Egypt

Invoice & certificate of origin (Case 2)

U.S. stepsSigned on letterhead → Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamp

Final stepEmbassy of Egypt

Notarization or certified copyA document you sign is signed in person before a U.S. notary public. The notary confirms who signed it, not whether the content is true. A state record is not notarized. You order a certified copy from the issuing office instead.
Secretary of StateThe state where the document was notarized or issued certifies the notary's or official's signature. Some states require county clerk certification first. For Egypt this is an authentication certificate, not an apostille.
U.S. Department of StateThe Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C. certifies the state seal. Federal documents skip steps 1 and 2 and start here.
Embassy of EgyptThe Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C., or the Egypt consulate that covers the issuing state, applies the final legalization. We send each document to the right office.
Returned to youWe send the legalized document back with tracking, ready to use in Egypt.

Case 4

Legalization of Personal Documents for Egypt

For marriage in Egypt, residency and work permits, inheritance and property matters, and university admission. Each personal document follows one of three routes, and all of them end at the Embassy of Egypt.

Vital records

Birth, marriage and death certificates and divorce decrees. Order a certified copy from the state vital records office or the court. No notary.

Secretary of State → U.S. Dept. of State → Embassy

Diplomas and transcripts

The school registrar signs a copy before a notary, or the school issues a notarized copy. The original diploma is not legalized directly.

Secretary of State → U.S. Dept. of State → Embassy

FBI background check

The original FBI Identity History Summary, exactly as issued. Don't notarize, laminate or write on it.

U.S. Dept. of State → Embassy

Personal powers of attorney and affidavits are signed in person before a notary, with the notary's seal on the same page as the signature, then follow the Secretary of State route. A state or local police clearance starts at its own state's Secretary of State.

Before you send

Required Documents for Legalization

What to send us

The original: notarized in person, a certified copy from the issuing state, or the original federal certificate. Plain photocopies and printouts aren't accepted.
One photocopy of the document. The embassy keeps a copy.
Your online order for Case 1, 2, 3 or 4, paid online or through Pay Invoice. You don't need a separate request form.
A prepaid return label: a FedEx or UPS air waybill, or a USPS Priority Mail envelope with tracking. You can also buy a label at checkout.

Egypt rules we check for you

The notary's seal must be on the same page as the signature, not on a separate certificate.
Federal documents, including FBI background checks, are sent as originals, exactly as the agency issued them.
Invoices and certificates of origin must show the importer's ACID number.

Case 2

Legalization of Commercial Shipping Documents for Egypt

1. Required shipping documents for legalization

Commercial invoiceOn company letterhead, with the buyer, seller, goods, HS codes, quantities, unit prices, total value and terms of sale.
Certificate of originStates the country where the goods were made. It must match the invoice exactly in consignee, description, quantities and weights.
Authorized signatureA company officer signs both documents, and the signer's name must be clearly printed.
ACID numberEgypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system requires the importer's ACID number on the invoice and the certificate of origin. Get it from your Egyptian importer before you issue the documents.

2. Importance of legalizing shipping documents

Customs clearanceEgypt customs uses the legalized invoice and certificate of origin to assess duty and release the goods.

PaymentEgypt banks often list legalized documents as a condition of a letter of credit.

Fewer delaysMismatched or unlegalized documents are the most common reason goods are held at port.

If your Egypt buyer needs only the chamber stamp, choose Case 3. If customs or the bank later asks for legalization, we move the order to Case 2.

Processing time

Processing Time and Fees

Case 2 price per document

Service fee	$100
Arab American Chamber of Commerce stamp	$35
Embassy of Egypt fee	$132
Total	$267

Processing time

Chamber stamp	1 business day
Embassy of Egypt	6 business days
Total	7 business days

Times are counted from the day we receive your documents, and return shipping is added at checkout. Case 1 and Case 4 documents also go through the Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of State before the embassy, so they take longer. Call us for a current estimate.

Why AACC

Why Choose the Arab American Chamber of Commerce?

Arab League recognizedEvery chamber stamp carries a unique number that officials can verify online.

One order, every stepNotary check, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, chamber stamp and embassy, all in one order.

Checked before submissionWe catch missing certified copies, notary errors and invoice mismatches before they cause a rejection.

Mailing

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

FAQ

Egypt Legalization: Common Questions

Does Egypt accept an apostille?

No. Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. U.S. documents are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and then legalized by the Embassy of Egypt or the Egypt consulate.

Do I need to notarize a birth certificate or good standing certificate?

No. State records are not notarized. Order a certified copy from the issuing office, and it goes straight to the Secretary of State.

How do I legalize an FBI background check for Egypt?

Send the original FBI Identity History Summary, not notarized and unaltered. It goes to the U.S. Department of State for authentication, then to the Embassy of Egypt (Case 4).

Do federal documents go through the Secretary of State?

No. FDA, USDA, USPTO and FBI documents go straight to the U.S. Department of State, then to the Embassy of Egypt.

How much does Case 2 cost and how long does it take?

$267 per document: $100 service fee, $35 chamber stamp and $132 Embassy of Egypt fee. It takes about 7 business days: 1 for the chamber and 6 at the embassy.

What is the ACID number?

The Advance Cargo Information Declaration number your Egyptian importer receives before the shipment. It must appear on the commercial invoice and certificate of origin.

Not sure which case fits your document?

Tell us what it is and who will receive it in Egypt. We'll confirm the route before you ship.

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