Using documents from the United States in Qatar
Qatar is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents issued in the United States generally need consular legalization before Qatari authorities accept them. Even though the United States issues apostilles, an apostille alone is not sufficient for Qatar. A typical route is:
- Issuing authority / notaryCertification by the issuing authority or a notary in the United States, where required.
- Foreign ministryAuthentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or designated authority of the United States.
- Embassy of QatarLegalization by the Embassy or Consulate of the State of Qatar accredited to the United States.
- MOFA QatarAttestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar.
- TranslationCertified translation into Arabic by our native translators.
The exact steps depend on the document type and the authority that issued it. We confirm them before we start, so there are no surprises.
Using Qatari documents in the United States
Qatar cannot issue apostilles. Qatari documents are generally attested by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalized by the Embassy of the United States accredited to Qatar before use in the United States. A certified translation into English or another accepted language is usually required.
Apostille status of the United States
The United States is a contracting party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Documents issued in the United States for use in another member country only need an apostille from the competent authority in the United States – which we can obtain for you through our international network.
Translation for the United States
Our native translators work in English and Spanish, as well as Arabic and English, and certify translations for authorities in Qatar and the United States.
Documents we commonly handle
- Birth, marriage and divorce certificates
- Degrees, diplomas and transcripts
- Police clearance certificates
- Powers of attorney and affidavits
- Company documents, commercial registrations and invoices
- Medical reports and professional licences
Related services
Embassy & Consulate Legalization
Consular legalization of documents by embassies and consulates, for countries that do not accept the apostille or require an extra embassy stamp.
MOFA Attestation in Qatar
Attestation by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for documents issued in Qatar or legalized abroad, with the full chain handled for you.
Certified Translation
Official translations of personal, legal, academic and corporate documents, stamped and certified for ministries, courts, embassies and universities.
Document Retrieval
We obtain official records on your behalf – from Qatar or abroad – and deliver them translated and legalized.
Frequently asked questions
Does Qatar accept apostilles from the United States?
No. Qatar is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents from the United States for use in Qatar need to be legalized by the Embassy of Qatar and attested by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
How long does legalization of documents from the United States take?
It depends on the document, the authorities involved and embassy processing times. We give you an estimate together with your quote and keep you informed at every step.
Can you retrieve documents from the United States for me?
In many cases, yes. With your authorization our international network can request documents from authorities in the United States, legalize them and deliver them to you in Qatar.