Iran is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so apostilles are not accepted for official use in Iran. Instead, documents must go through the embassy legalization process, which includes state authentication, U.S. Department of State authentication, and finally legalization by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C., or an Iranian Consulate.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to submit documents for embassy legalization for use in Iran:
✅ Step-by-Step: How to Legalize Documents for Use in Iran
1. Notarize the Document (if required)
• If your document is not already issued by a government agency (e.g., a diploma, power of attorney, or affidavit), it must first be notarized by a licensed notary public in the state of origin.
• Make sure the notary includes a proper acknowledgment or jurat.
2. Authenticate by the Secretary of State
• Submit the notarized or original document to the Secretary of State where the document was issued.
• For example, if it’s a California document, it must be authenticated by the California Secretary of State.
🔗 California Secretary of State Authentication
3. Authenticate by the U.S. Department of State
• Once the state-level authentication is complete, you must submit the document to the U.S. Department of State – Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.
• Required materials:
• Original authenticated document
• Form DS-4194
• Cover letter
• Appropriate fee ($20 per document)
• Prepaid return envelope
🔗 U.S. Department of State Authentications
4. Legalize at the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistan Embassy
Since the U.S. and Iran do not have formal diplomatic relations, Iran’s consular services are handled through the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C.
Required Materials:
• Authenticated documents
• Translated documents (in Persian/Farsi, depending on the type of document)
• Copy of passport or national ID of the applicant
• Cover letter explaining the purpose of the document
• Legalization fee (fees vary by document type; call or check online)
• Prepaid return envelope
📝 Note: Iran often requires translations to be certified and legalized as well.
5. Mail or Deliver the Package to the Iranian Interests Section
Address:
Iranian Interests Section
Embassy of Pakistan
1250 23rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20037
Phone: (202) 965-4990⏱️ Processing Time: Typically 2–4 weeks, depending on document type and current diplomatic workload.
⚠️ Important Notes:
• Always contact the Iranian Interests Section directly before mailing documents. Requirements and fees can change without notice.
• They do not process apostilles, so attempting to submit only an apostilled document will result in rejection.
• Consider hiring a professional like Orange County Apostille to manage the process for you, including courier service to D.C.
✅ Documents Commonly Legalized for Iran
• Birth certificates for dual citizenship applications
• Marriage certificates
• Academic records (for Iranian Ministry of Science or Ministry of Health)
• Power of attorney (Vakalah Naameh) for property or banking
• Business documents for trade or import/export
🛠 Want Help? Orange County Apostille Can:
• Notarize and authenticate your documents
• Translate into Farsi (if needed)
• Submit to the Secretary of State and U.S. Department of State
• Handle embassy legalization with the Iranian Interests Section