Public Services

Notary Services

Consular Officers perform notary services customarily provided by Notaries Public in the United States. Persons requiring such services should visit the Consular Section during our public hours. A fee of U.S. $30.00 for the first seal and $20.00 for each subsequent seal (or Lao Kip equivalent) is charged per transaction. All documents to be notarized must be in English and must be intended for use by an American Citizen or for use in the United States. The Consulate does not provide translation services for documents to be notarized.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of notarial services are available? The U.S. Consulate offers four types of notarial services:

• Oath (Affidavit): An oath is a written statement or declaration sworn to, or affirmed before, a consular official.
• Acknowledgement: An acknowledgement is the consular officer’s declaration that the named individual appeared before him/her and has acknowledged that the signature of a document is his/her own signature, that s/he understands the document, and has signed of his/her own free will.
• Authentication: An authentication is the certification of the genuineness of a signature of a notary or government official. Documents that may require an authentication include legal instruments notarized by foreign notaries.
• Certification of True Copies: A document that has been verified as a complete and accurate reproduction of an original

Why was my notary refused?

Consular officers can refuse to perform a notarial service if they have reason to believe that the document will be used for purposed patently unlawful or not in the best interests on the United States. In addition, consular officers can postpone a notarial if the customer cannot demonstrate that he or she understands the nature and language of the document and comprehends the significance of the act, or in cases where the signatory is acting under duress.

What happens if my document requires a witness?

If your document needs a witness you may be able to find someone in the ACS waiting room that is willing to act in that capacity. If no one is available in the waiting room to act as a witness, you may need to postpone the notary. The consular officer and local staff are not permitted to act as witnesses.

Requirements for Notary Services

For Oaths:

• Appear in person
• Prove identity
• Swear or affirm after indicating a basic understanding of the penalty for perjury
• Sign in the consular officer’s presence

For Acknowledgements:

• Appear in person to state that the signature on the document in question is his/hers
• Prove identity
• Demonstrate understanding of the document’s contents
• Indicate that she/he is signing of his/her own free will