Notarial Services

CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEETS

E-Mail: buenosaires-ACS@state.gov

AUTHENTICATION OF ARGENTINE DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN THE U.S.

THE HAGUE LEGALIZATION CONVENTION PROCEDURE

Documents issued in one country, which need to be used in another country, must be "authenticated" or "legalized" before they can be recognized as valid in the foreign country. This is a process in which various seals are placed on the document. Such documents range from powers of attorney, affidavits, birth, death and marriages records, incorporation papers, deeds, patent applications, home studies and other legal papers. The number and type of authentication certificates one needs to obtain depend on the nature of the document and whether or not the foreign country is a party to the multilateral treaty on "legalization" of documents, The Hague Legalization Convention Procedure.
 The United States and Argentina are parties to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents.  The Convention abolishes the requirement of diplomatic and consular legalization for public documents originating in one Convention country and intended for use in another. Therefore, for Argentine public documents to be valid in the U.S., one should obtain an apostille (a special kind of certificate) from the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Arenales 821, Capital Federal, Tel.: 4819-7501/3. For more information, please visit the website: www.mrecic.gov.ar   If the document was issued outside the area of Capital Federal, it should also be authenticated by the Interior Ministry, 25 de Mayo 179, Buenos Aires City, TEL# 54-11- 4339-0800 Ext. 71958/71960.  It is recommendable that the document be translated and then authenticated. Under the Hague Convention, neither U.S. consular certification, nor any other authentication other than the apostille from the source listed above, depending upon the authority which issued the document, is required for an argentine document to be used before a U.S. civil authority.  United States citizens who encounter difficulties with official acceptance of a document with an apostille attached should advise the U.S. Consular Section at the following e-mail address: BuenosAires-ACS@state.gov

DOCUMENTS THAT MAY OBTAIN AN APOSTILLE

For the purposes of the Hague Convention, public documents include:
 (a) Documents emanating from a court, (b) documents issued by an administrative authority (such as civil records, for example, birth and marriage records), and (c) documents executed before a notary.   Such documents issued in Argentina certified by a Convention certificate with an apostille are entitled to recognition in the U.S., or any other Convention country without any further authentication.