⚠️ Important First: Cambodia is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so apostilles are not accepted for use in Cambodia.

Instead, if you’re submitting U.S. documents for use in Cambodia (e.g., for employment, marriage, business, residency, or school), you must go through a three-step authentication and embassy legalization process — not an apostille.

✅ Step-by-Step Guide: How to Legalize U.S. Documents for Use in Cambodia

🔹 Step 1: State-Level Authentication

If the document is issued in a U.S. state (e.g., California):

• First, have it notarized properly (if required).

• Then submit it to the California Secretary of State or the applicable state’s Secretary of State office for authentication (not apostille).

• You will receive a Certificate of Authentication, not an apostille.

📌 California Authentication Instructions

🔹 Step 2: U.S. Department of State Authentication

Once your document is authenticated at the state level:

• Submit it to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.

• This step confirms the state’s authentication certificate or the federal signature.

📍 Address:

U.S. Department of State – Authentications Office

600 19th Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

📌 U.S. Department of State Authentication Info

🕒 Processing Time: ~2–3 weeks by mail, or faster with expedited service.

🔹 Step 3: Legalization by the Embassy of Cambodia

After the U.S. Department of State authentication is attached, the final step is submitting the document to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C.

📄 Embassy Requirements:

You’ll typically need to submit:

• The fully authenticated document

• A copy of the document

• A cover letter explaining the purpose (e.g., “for employment visa”)

• A copy of passport or ID

• Payment (varies by document type)

• Prepaid return envelope (FedEx or UPS)

📍 Cambodian Embassy in Washington, D.C.:

Royal Embassy of Cambodia

4530 16th Street NW

Washington, DC 20011

📞 (202) 726-7742

🌐 https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org

📧 Email: [email protected] (to confirm latest requirements)

🕒 Legalization Timeline: ~3–7 business days

🧾 Common Documents Requiring Legalization for Cambodia

• Birth and marriage certificates

• University degrees, transcripts

• Power of attorney

• Police clearances (FBI background checks)

• Business contracts, incorporation papers

• Medical documents

🚫 Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting an apostille instead of going through authentication + legalization.

• Skipping the U.S. Department of State step.

• Failing to include payment or prepaid return envelope.

• Sending documents to the embassy before state or federal authentication.

✅ How Orange County Apostille Can Help

At Orange County Apostille, we simplify this entire process:

• We authenticate your documents with the California Secretary of State.

• Forward them to the U.S. Department of State from our Washington, D.C. office.

• Handle the Cambodian Embassy submission directly.

• Provide translation services if required.

• Return the fully legalized documents to you — fast and worry-free.

📲 Visit: https://orangecountyapostille.org

📍 Offices in California & Washington, D.C.

📞 Call us to start your Cambodia legalization today.