Legalization of Documents

If you're sending documents to a country that isn't part of the Hague Apostille Convention, you'll need document legalization instead. Think of it as extra authentication steps that tell the receiving country your paperwork is legitimate.

Here's how it works: Your documents go through a chain of approvals. They start with a notary, move up to your state government office, then to the U.S. Department of State, and finally get certified by the embassy or consulate of the country where you're sending them. It's more involved than a standard apostille, but it's what those countries require to accept your documents.

Countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait all have their own specific rules about this process—including different fees, translation requirements, and submission timelines. Getting everything right the first time matters because mistakes can lead to expensive delays and having to start over. That's why working with someone who knows the exact requirements for your destination country is so valuable.

Turnaround time is based on an embassy's workload and staffing. At DBI, we will process your order usually within 24 to 48 hours.  Most countries require at least 2 weeks to process document legalization.