Certificate to Foreign Government CFG Apostille

FDA ApostilleDo you need an apostille for a Certificate to Foreign Government (CFG)?

The “Certificate to Foreign Government” is for the export of human drugs and biologics, animal drugs, and devices that can be legally marketed in the United States. (CBER, CDRH, and CVM).

If you are planning to export products to another country, the government receiving the products will request a Certificate to Foreign Government which assures that the product are in compliance with U.S. laws or meets specific U.S. regulations.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency which issues this type of certification.

In many cases, foreign governments are seeking official assurance that products exported to their countries can be marketed in the United States or meet specific U.S. regulations, for example current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations. Review of an FDA Export Certificate may be a required part of the process to register or import a product into another country.

Our office in Washington, D.C. specializes in authenticating FDA documents through the U.S. Department of State.  Our current processing time is four business days.  We also provide FedEx return 1-2 day shipping at no additional charge.  There are currently over 100 countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.  We routinely provide U.S. Department of State certification and Embassy/Consulate legalization for countries who are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention.

In addition to authenticating Certificate to Foreign Government documents, we can also authenticate documents issued by other U.S. Federal Government agencies including:

US Department of Agriculture – USDA
– Animal/Plant Certifications
– Animal Health Certifications

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – FDA
– Certificate of Free Sale (Can also be issued by the local Chamber of Commerce)
– Certificate of Origin (Can also be issued by the local Chamber of Commerce)

US Department of Health and Human Services – HHS
Certificate to Foreign Governments
– Certificate of Pharmaceutical/Export

US Department of Justice – DOJ
– FBI Back ground check (FBI Apostille)
– U.S. Federal Court Documents
– U.S. Bankruptcy Court

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – USPTO
– Trademark

U.S. Department of Homeland Security – DHS
– Certificate of Naturalization

Environmental Protection Agency – EPA

Social Security Administration – SSA
– Income and Benefits Letter

Office of Personnel Management – OPM

National Archives and Records Administration – NARA

International Apostille Services, Inc. is the leader in document authentication services. We process documents from all 50 U.S. States including documents issued by the U.S. Federal Government.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Afghanistan Embassy Legalization

Afghanistan Embassy Legalization – Washington, D.C.

We provide fast document authentication, certification, attestation, and Embassy legalization services for Afganistan.

Because Afghanistan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must first be processed through the State, the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and then through the Afghanistan Embassy in Washington, D.C.

**Note: As of this article, the Afghanistan Embassy processing time is 3-4 weeks. Please, contact us for the most current processing time. Thank you.

This three-step-process is required for documents destined for the country of Afghanistan.

The very first step depends on the type of document you need authenticated. If your document requires notarization, you will need to meet with an experienced local notary near you to notarize your signature on the document. It’s important to inform the notary that the document will be authenticated by the State and to follow the notarial laws in their State to avoid any delays or additional costs. We recommend that you choose a notary who is a member of the National Notary Association. Notaries who are members of the National Notary Association (NNA) can download the notary forms from NNA website.

Please note: If your document is written in Arabic, please find a certified translator in your State to translate the documents to English. You must also ask the translator to have his/her signature notarized on the document. If the translator is not located in your State, you will need to have the document notarized in your State. You can find a certified translator by visiting the American Translator’s Association website. Remember, if the translator is in another State, you can sign and notarize the document in your State.

Documents issued by the State or County Clerk do not need notarization as these documents are already signed by a State or County Clerk official. These documents include: Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Decree (Court Documents), Articles of Incorporation, Statement of Information, Certificate to Foreign Government, Certificate of Good Standing, etc…

You can read more on the type of documents we authenticate for Afghanistan by clicking this link: Afghanistan Document Legalization

As mentioned earlier in this article, legalizing documents for Afghanistan is a three-step-process. We’ve put together a small illustration below to help you understand the process.

Document LegalizationStep 1: U.S. State Certification – Because Afghanistan is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents will receive a certification from the State and not an Apostille. Each State’s certificate differs from the other. In the United States, we have 50 different certificates. We can process documents issued from all 50 U.S. States and the U.S. Federal Government. We have six offices strategically located in the United Sates to expedite certification process. We recommend that you contact us before you mail-in your document in order to avoid any delays.

The processing time and fee can vary for each State. For example, we can certify documents in California, Washington, D.C., New York, Maryland, Arizona, and Nevada in 1-2 business days. For all other states, Please Contact Us for a price quote and estimated time for completion. Certifying documents for some States can take up to two weeks (Example: Michigan).

Step 2: U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Certification – The very next step is to certify your documents through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. You can see an example of a certificate issued by the U.S. Department of State by clicking this link: U.S. Department of State Certificate Example

The processing time with the U.S. Department of State is currently 3-4 business days. Please Contact Us for a price quote and estimated time for completion. The certification process from the U.S. Department of Sate is in addition to the State Certification.

Step 3: Afghanistan Embassy Legalization – The Embassy of Afghanistan is located in Washington, D.C. In order for the Embassy to legalize your documents, they must first be certified by the State and the U.S. Department of State. The Embassy currently has a 3-4 week turn-around. Please contact us for the most up to date Embassy document fee.

Note: The processing time with the Afghanistan Embassy is 3-4 weeks. Please Contact Us for a price quote and estimated time for completion.

International Apostille Services, Inc. is the leader in document authentication services. We process documents from all 50 U.S. States including documents issued by the U.S. Federal Government.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Kuwait Embassy Document Legalization

In Washington, D.C., we can authenticate your documents through the Kuwait Embassy in 5 to 7 business days.  This type of authentication is typically referred to as legalization.

Consular Jurisdiction:
The Embassy of the State of Kuwait has jurisdiction for the following U.S. States:
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Please note that the Embassy will charge a fee for each document legalized.  We will bill your credit card on file once we know the exact amount the Embassy will charge.  If your State does not fall within the jurisdiction outlined above, visit this site for more information: Los Angeles Kuwait Consulate Document Legalization .

Processing Time:
The current processing at the Kuwait Embassy in Washington, D.C. is 5 to 7 business days.

Below, we’ve outlined the steps involved in processing your documents.  There are two steps involved before your documents are eligible to be legalized at the Embassy.  The first step is to have your document authenticated by the State which issued the document.  The second step is to have your documents authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Example of a Kuwait Embassy Legalization / Stamp behind the U.S. Department of State Certification.  Because Kuwait is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents must be certified by the State and the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. before it’s presented to the Embassy for legalization.

Type of Documents:
The Kuwait Embassy can legalize: Business Letters, Registration, Patent Application, Authorization of Agent, Agreements, Affidavit, Trademark, Articles of Incorporation, Power of Attorney, Assignment, Declaration, Diplomas, Transcripts, U.S. Birth Certificates, U.S. Death Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Decree and more.

We can process documents from all 50 United States including the U.S. Department of State,
the Secretary of the District of Columbia, and all Consul / Embassy offices in Washington, DC.

Some of our clients prefer that we only handle the legalization process (Consulate / Embassy only). We’re okay with that too!

Our fast service ensures your documents will be processed quickly saving you time and money. We have authenticated hundreds of documents through the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Washington, D.C.. Call us now for an instant price quote. Thank you.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Form DS-4194 Office of Authentication

The U.S. Department of State issues both Apostilles and Certificates.  The determination of which certificate is issued is based on the destination country.  There are currently over 100 countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.  If the destination country is not a member, your documents will receive a certificate.

Our service takes the guesswork out of authenticating your documents.  If you have a document issued by the Federal Government, you can simply mail your certified document to our office in Washington, D.C. with our Order Form.  The processing time is 3 – 4 business days and please allow 1 – 2 business days for overnight shipping by UPS (No additional charge).  For international shipping, please contact us for a quote.

There is no need to fill-out Form DS-4194 when mailing your documents to our office.

Why Choose Us?

  • Fast 3-4 Day Service
  • 1-2 Day UPS Delivery (No Additional Fee)
  • International Shipping Available
  • Embassy Legalization (Washington, D.C. & Los Angeles Only)
  • Hand Drop-Off & Pick-Up
  • Friendly & Professional Service
  • Thousands of Documents Authenticated

We can process documents from the following U.S. Government agencies: USDA, FDA, HHS, DOJ, USPTO, EPA, SSA, and more!  The most common documents we receive are FBI Background Checks, Social Security Administration Income and Benefit Letters, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Diplomas, Certificate of Foreign Government, and Certificate of Free Sale.

If your documents require authentication by the State and the Federal Government, then most likely your documents are destined for a country which is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.  Most of these countries will also ask you to have your documents legalized at the Consulate or Embassy.  It’s important to know what documents are being requested by the destination country in order to avoid any delays.  Please Contact Us with any questions.  Thank you.

We can process documents from all 50 States including the U.S. Department of State,
the Secretary of the District of Columbia, and all Consul / Embassy offices in Washington, DC.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

How to Apostille

How to ApostilleWe’ve written a section on our site which helps explain how to Apostille your documents.  Please bookmark this link: https://www.internationalapostille.com/how-to-apostille/

Obtaining an Apostille can be complicated and very time consuming. For example, in the State of California, we can Apostille your documents the same-day we receive them.  We can also Apostille and certify documents issued by the Secretary of the District of Columbia (D.C) in 1-2 business days.  In the State of Nevada, we provide a 24 hour rush service.

We specialize in expediting your documents through the various Secretary of State offices including the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.  The current processing time through the US. Department of State is 3-4 business days.

To learn more on how to apostille your documents, click the following links:

Apostille a Power of Attorney
Apostille a Driver License
Apostille a Diploma
Apostille a School Transcript
Apostille a Birth Certificate
Apostille a Death Certificate
Apostille a Marriage Certificate
Apostille a Divorce Decree
Apostille a Single Status Affidavit
Apostille a Background Check
Apostille a FBI Background Check
Apostille a Social Security letter
Apostille a U.S. Passport
Apostille a Travel Consent Letter
Apostille a U.S. Federal Government Document
Apostille a U.S. State Document
Apostille a U.S. Corporate Document

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Apostille USA Documents

We can process documents for all 50 US States, the US Department of State in DC, and the Secretary of the District of Columbia.  With so many States, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Government, the United States issues 52 different Apostilles.

Not every Apostille issued will have a gold seal.  For example, in the State of California, the Apostille does not include a gold seal but a red seal.  Here is an example of a California Apostille.

An Apostille issued by the US Department of State also does not include a gold seal.  Here is an example of an Apostille from the US Department of State.  The Secretary of the District of Columbia issues an Apostille and a certificate with a gold seal.

There is a misconception that all Apostilles must have a gold seal.  This misconseption is incorrect.  This may seem difficult to comprehend, but the Secretary of State decides how they overall layout of the Apostille and the certificate will look.

An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the District of Columbia or the US Department of State in Washington, DC.  This document is affixed to the original or certified document.

Here is typically what’s included in an apostille:

  • Country … [country name] This public document
  • has been signed by … [name]
  • acting in the capacity of … [function]
  • bears the seal/stamp of … [authority] certified
  • at … [location]
  • the … [date]
  • by … [name]
  • No … [apostille registration number]
  • Seal/stamp … [of the authority giving the apostille]
  • Signature … [signature of authority giving the apostille]

Since October 15, 1981, the United States has been part of the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.

The Apostille Convention provides for the simplified certification of public (including notarized) documents to be used in countries that have joined the convention.  Documents destined for use in participating countries and their territories should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed.

Click here to view a list of Members of the Hague Apostille Convention

The Apostille Convention requires that all Apostille’s be numbered consecutively, with individual numbers applied to each Apostille issued. The recognized standard Apostille contains a seal and 10 mandatory references: name of country from which the document emanates, name of person signing the document, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority that has affixed the seal or stamp, place of certification date of certification, the authority issuing the certificate, number of certificate, seal or stamp of authority issuing certificate and signature of authority issuing certificate.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.

Certificate of Naturalization Apostille

We provide fast 1-4 business day Apostille service for your Certificate of Naturalization.  The Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) is a Federal Document which requires authentication by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC for countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention.  If the receiving country is not a member, a Certificate will be attached.

If you do not have your Certificate of Naturalization, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security here: http://www.uscis.gov/

Step 1: You will need to mail-in your original Certificate of Naturalization document to our office.  Depending on your location, you can either mail your document to our Los Angeles office or our Washington, D.C. office.  There is no difference in the cost.  You might save one business day by mailing your document to our office in the District of Columbia (D.C.).  Be sure to include our Order Form.

Step 2: We will verify and process your document through the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.  Turn around time is 1-4 business days.  Please keep in mind that the U.S. Department of State is closed on weekends, major holidays, and when there is adverse weather conditions.  Please allow additional time for UPS overnight shipping to and from the D.C. area.

Step 3: Once complete, your document will be picked-up from the U.S. Department of State and dropped off at the UPS shipping facility.  Your documents will arrive within 1-2 business days (Excluding: Saturday, Sunday, Major Holidays, & International Shipping).  We can ship your documents anywhere in the world.  International shipping rates apply.

We are experts in the Apostille process.  We can Apostille documents from all 50 U.S. States including legalizing your documents from select Embassy / Consul office in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California.

International Apostille Order Form PDF SmallClick to download our International Apostille Order Form. Our Apostille service is fast, convenient, and saves you time and money.