Notary Services for all Nationalities

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The U.S. Embassy in London and the U.S. Consulates General in Belfast and Edinburgh can notarize documents for people of any nationality. However, appointment availability is extremely limited and we cannot offer emergency appointments, so it is important that you are aware of other options for getting your documents notarized (also known as legalization).

A growing number of states accept documents notarized online, making it a convenient and efficient option. If you need documentation notarized for use in the United States, we strongly suggest that you research whether the state in which your documents will be filed accepts documents notarized remotely. Please note that the U.S. Embassy in London and the U.S. Consulates General in Belfast and Edinburgh cannot complete an electronic notary or provide guidance on the subject.

If you need notarization services urgently, you can consider the British system for legalization. Documents notarized in this way are acceptable for use in the United States as they comply with the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. Notarization under this system is a two-step process:

Step 1: Have your documents signed in front of a Solicitor or Notary Public. You can locate one near you using the Notary Society’s website.

Step 2: Have the documents legalized by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) by means of an apostille (the official term for the legalization certification).

UK public records such as birth, marriage and death certificates, probate documents, and documents certified by court officials and the Patent Office and Companies Registration Office can be legalized by FCDO.

Visit the UK government’s website for more information and guidance.

 


Notarization at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate

Before you decide to try to book an appointment for a notary service at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, it is vital that you check whether or not we are able to notarize your type of document.

Documents that we CAN notarize

Before you attend your appointment, make sure that you understand the contents of the document. The Consular Officer cannot explain documents to you, assemble documents, or provide legal advice on their preparation. If your documents are not ready for signature, you will be required to book and attend a new appointment.

Therefore, it is important that you bring your documents fully completed, assembled and ready for notarization with instructions from the end user in the state of jurisdiction and without any missing pages. Do not sign the document.

Example of a Sworn Statement/Affidavit form (PDF 84Kb)

Visit savingsbonds.gov for general information and a Savings Bonds calculator.

You cannot present U.S. Savings Bonds for immediate payment while you are abroad. You must execute a request for payment in the presence of a qualified witnessing official and then mail the bonds to the appropriate authority in the United States to request that a dollar check (cheque) is mailed to you.

You can execute a request for payment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Services are by appointment only. You must present the unsigned bonds at your appointment or FS Form 1522. You will be asked to show your passport as proof of identification. If the name in your passport differs from that on the bond, you must also present evidence of the name change, such as a marriage certificate.

After your signature has been witnessed, the bonds should be forwarded for payment to the United States. It can take up to three months for receipt of payment. Visit the Department of Treasury’s website for information about how to send the signed and certified bonds to the Treasury Retail Securities Site in the United States.

Tax information

If you are a U.S. citizen: Prepare a signed statement to be sent to the United States with the bonds. This statement should include your passport number, date and place of birth, country of residence, and the name and address of the authority to which you pay taxes.

If you are a citizen of a country with a tax treaty with the United States (such as the United Kingdom): You should complete IRS FORM W-8 to claim exemption from the U.S. tax on the bond(s) interest and send the form to the Treasury Retail Securities Site in the U.S. along with the bonds. Visit the Department of Treasury’s website to obtain IRS Form W-8 and more information.

Before you attend your appointment, make sure that you understand the contents of the document. The Consular Officer cannot explain documents to you, assemble documents, or provide legal advice on their preparation. If your documents are not ready for signature, you will be required to book and attend a new appointment.

Therefore, it is important that you bring your documents fully completed, assembled and ready for notarization. Do not sign the document.

If you are applying for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and need to have your identification verified before sending your application to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States, this service is available through IRS authorized acceptance agents or by attending an appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Services at the Embassy and Consulates are by appointment only and appointment availability is extremely limited. No emergency appointments are available.

If you attend an appointment at an Embassy or Consulate, you must bring your passport and a good quality color photocopy of the biographical data page of your passport (the page with your photograph).

For specific information about ITIN, please contact IRS directly.

Before you attend your appointment, make sure that you understand the contents of the document. The Consular Officer cannot explain documents to you, assemble documents, or provide legal advice on their preparation. If your documents are not ready for signature, you will be required to book and attend a new appointment.

Therefore, it is important that you bring your documents fully completed, assembled and ready for notarization. Do not sign the document.

Before you attend your appointment, make sure that you understand the contents of the document. The Consular Officer cannot explain documents to you, assemble documents, or provide legal advice on their preparation. If your documents are not ready for signature, you will be required to book and attend a new appointment.

Therefore, it is important that you bring your documents fully completed, assembled and ready for notarization. Do not sign the document.

When a child under the age of 16 applies for a U.S. passport service, the child and both parents are typically required to appear in person. If you are not able to attend their passport appointment in person, you may submit a notarized Statement of Consent, Form DS-3053.

Services at the Embassy and Consulates in the UK are by appointment only. When you attend your appointment, you must present your government-issued photo I.D. (such as your U.S or foreign passport, driving license or military I.D) together with the Form DS-3053.

There is no fee for this service.

A consular officer can take a true copy of a U.S. passport. Anyone can present the passport to be copied, provided that they have an appointment. The appointment must be made in the name of the person attending.

You must bring the passport and a good quality color photocopy of the biographical data page of the passport (the page with the photograph). If you are attending on behalf of someone else, make sure you also bring your own form of photo ID such as your passport or driver’s license.

Before you attend your appointment, make sure you are in possession of the correct IdenTrust forms. Consular Officers can only execute IdenTrust forms that require notarization by a notary public. If the form requires an Authorized DoD Employee we will be unable to provide a notarial service and you will be required to reschedule your appointment.


Notary and other services that we CANNOT provide

U.S. Embassies and Consulates do not have the authority to affix an apostille to U.S. documents so please do not book an appointment for this.

The Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued is authorized to affix the apostille on a U.S. birth, marriage or death certificate. You can find the contact details you need with a quick online search. The apostille will officially authenticate the signature and seal of your state issued certificate for use in another country party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.

The Embassy and Consulates cannot provide this service so please do not book an appointment for this. You should contact the issuing educational institution for guidance. More information can be found on the Department of State’s website.

A consular officer cannot perform a Medallion Signature Guarantee (which is a financial institution’s guarantee that an investor’s signature is genuine as well as its acceptance of any liability for any forgery within the securities transfer instruction). Please do not schedule an appointment for this.

For more information, see the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

General questions about Medallion Signature Guarantees should be directed to the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance, by email to help@sec.gov, by phone at 1-800-SEC-0330, or by mail to 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20549-0213.

The following firms provide Medallion Signature Guarantees:

The U.S. Embassy London assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department of State or U.S. Embassy London. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance.

  • Financial institutions in the United Kingdom that are connected to U.S. or Canadian banks may be able to offer a Medallion Signature Guarantee to existing customers.

Finders International
8 Vestry Street, London, N1 7RE
0207 490 4935
contact@findersinternational.co.uk

Fraser and Fraser, International Probate Researchers
39 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EH
0207 832 1400
info@fraserandfraser.co.uk

IWC Probate & Wills
Suite 3, 1st Floor, 9-13 Bocking End, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3AJ
0208 150 2010
enquiries@iwcprobateservices.co.uk

Lester Aldridge LLP
Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EX
0120 278 6161
online.enquiry@LA-law.com

Redmayne Bentley LLP
139 Commercial Road, Ashley Cross, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0JD
0120 271 4456
medallion@redmayne.co.uk

Share Data Limited
1A South Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1NR
0140 327 1170
admin@sharedata.co.uk

Title Research LTD
Spectrum House, Bond Street, Bristol, BS1 3LG
0345  872 7600
info@titleresearch.com


Fees for notary services at U.S. Embassies and Consulates
  • Notary services incur a fee of $50 per consular seal. Please bear this in mind if you have multiple documents that need to be notarized, or if your document requires multiple signatures from a consular officer. For example, if your documents require the Consular Officer to sign and acknowledge your signature three times, you will be charged $150.
  • There is no fee for certifying Form DS-3053 (Statement of Consent in connection with a child’s passport application).
  • Credit/Debit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) – card transactions are in U.S. dollars and you may be subject to additional fees applied by your payment card provider.
  • An International Money Order to the exact U.S. dollar amount made payable to the “United States Disbursing Officer” issued within the last five months.
  • A Banker’s Draft drawn in U.S. dollars only on a bank in the United States made payable to the “United States Disbursing Officer” issued within the last five months.
  • Cash (either in U.S. dollars or British pounds) if you are attending an appointment at the Embassy in London or the Consulate General in Belfast. It is not possible to pay by cash if you are applying for a notary service at the Consulate General in Edinburgh.

We are not authorized to accept personal checks (cheques).


Appointments

Appointment availability is extremely limited. If no appointments are available when you first check the online calendar, keep checking for newly released and cancelled appointments. Make sure you use the arrow key to check future months.

We do not operate a wait list and we cannot offer emergency appointments. If you need a notarial service urgently and no appointments are available, see the information at the top of this webpage about alternative notary options.

Do not book a separate appointment for your witnesses or co-signatories.

Notarials including ITIN and PTIN appointments can only be booked through the online calendar. It operates in real-time on a first-come, first-served basis. The calendar shows all available appointments, including any new appointments and any appointments released due to cancelations. No appointments are available on evenings, weekends, or U.S. or UK public holidays.

As we do not operate a wait list and no emergency appointments are possible, we will be unable to respond to any questions about appointment availability or requests for appointments by telephone, social media or email.

When scheduling a notarial appointment, including ITIN/PTIN and certified copies of U.S. passports, please select “Request notarial and other services not listed above”. If you select passport services or birth abroad services, we will not honor the appointment and you will be asked to schedule a notarial appointment.

When booking your appointment, you must include contact details, such as your email address and phone number, or your appointment may be canceled.

Remember: You will not be sent an appointment booking confirmation email or appointment reminder emails so it is vital that you make note of the appointment date, time and password at the time of booking.

The appointment calendars listed above are for notary services only.

If your document requires witnesses, you should not book a separate appointment for them. See the section below to arrange for them to accompany you to your appointment. However, if you have a spouse or relative that requires their own notary service, they will need to book a separate appointment – they cannot share your appointment.

Do not book a separate appointment for your witnesses or co-signatories.

If you are not sure if your document requires witnesses after reading any associated instructions, contact your legal adviser.

Embassy and Consulate staff and customers cannot act as witnesses, so if your document requires witnesses, you will need to arrange for them to accompany you to your appointment.

Once you have booked your notary appointment, please contact us to provide your full name, the full names of your witnesses/co-signatories, and the date and time of your appointment:

Each witness/co-signatory must bring a form of photo ID, such as their passport or driver’s license.

You and your witnesses/co-signatory must not sign the documents that you need notarizing until you are directed to do so during the appointment.

Please click on the type of document that you are having notarized from the list in the ‘Documents that we CAN notarize’ section above for guidance.

  • Bring the document(s) to be notarized, an accepted payment method, and your passport or other government issued photo ID such as your driver’s license.
  • The name on the document to be notarized must match the name on your photo ID. We will not be able to notarize a document in a different name.
  • Any witnesses will need to bring their photo ID.

Remember, you must read your document carefully before attending your appointment as it is vital that you understand what you will be signing.

You (and your witnesses if applicable) must not sign the document(s) that you need notarizing until you are directed to do so during the appointment.

You should plan to be at the Embassy or Consulate for approximately 90 minutes. The exact time will vary depending on the circumstances of your case and cannot be guarantees in advance.

If you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel it as soon as possible so that the appointment can be released for someone else.

Disclaimer – Footer

This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in The United Kingdom. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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