Not all countries accept apostilles. China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, and many others require full consular legalization chains. We identify the right process and manage it end-to-end.
Step 1 of 4
Which country will use the document?
The following are the most commonly requested non-Hague countries. Each requires full consular legalization rather than apostille:
Note: The UAE joined the Hague Convention in March 2021 — apostille is now valid for UAE submissions. Learn about UAE requirements →
Employment in China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or other non-Hague countries requires legalized credentials. The process must be started well before your start date — timelines range from 4–10 weeks depending on the destination country.
Corporate documents for company registration, contracts, and regulatory filings in non-Hague countries all require consular legalization. We handle high-volume commercial legalization for multinational businesses.
Marriage, adoption, inheritance, and family matters in non-Hague countries require legalized personal documents. We handle the full chain for individuals navigating cross-border family proceedings.
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original document | Issuing authority | Before process | Originals required for consular legalization chains. We advise on notarization requirements per country. |
| Notarization (if required) | Notary public | Before chain | Most documents entering a consular chain must first be notarized. |
| State / federal authentication | Secretary of State / US State Dept. | 1–8 weeks depending on service level | Varies by destination country. Some require only state-level; others require US State Dept. as well. |
| Embassy / consulate legalization | Embassy of destination country | 5–30 business days (varies widely) | Each embassy has its own fees, procedures, and timelines. We track all submission requirements. |
| Translation (if required) | Qualified translator | 2–3 business days | Many non-Hague countries require certified translation in the local language alongside legalization. |
Tell us the destination country and document type. We confirm whether consular legalization is required (or if the country has recently joined the Hague Convention), map the exact chain, and provide a fixed quote.
We handle notarization and submission to the Secretary of State in the relevant state.
Many non-Hague countries require the US State Dept. authentication step. We use expedited service where available.
We submit to the destination country's embassy in the US and coordinate any required translation. Your fully legalized document package is delivered ready for use.
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
The Hague Apostille Convention (1961) is an international treaty that simplifies the authentication of documents between member countries. A single "apostille" certificate is all that is needed to authenticate a document for use in any other member country. Currently 125+ countries are members.
Major countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention include: China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and many others. For a complete and current list, we recommend checking the HCCH (Hague Conference) official status table.
The UAE joined the Hague Convention on March 14, 2021. Documents submitted to the UAE after that date can use the apostille route — you no longer need full consular legalization. However, some UAE authorities still follow legacy attestation processes. We confirm what your specific UAE case requires.
The simplest way is to check the HCCH official status table at hcch.net. Countries listed there accept apostilles. Countries not listed require consular legalization. When in doubt, contact us — we confirm for any country at no charge.
Yes — significantly. Some countries require only Secretary of State + Embassy legalization. Others (like China and Saudi Arabia) also require the US State Dept. step. Some require Arabic or Chinese translation as part of the submission. We know the exact chain for each country.
When a country joins (like the UAE did in 2021), the apostille replaces consular legalization going forward. The transition is not always immediate — some government agencies and employers continue using old workflows. We track Convention membership changes and advise on the current requirement.
Costs vary by destination country, document type, and number of documents. A full chain (US documents to China or Saudi Arabia) typically ranges from $250–$500+ per document depending on expedited service and translation requirements. Contact us for an exact quote for your specific country and document combination.
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