Official Website of the
Secretary of American Samoa
Secretary of American Samoa
What is an Apostille and how do I get one?
An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in another country that is a signatory of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, otherwise known as the Apostille Convention.
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Authentication is the process of verifying or "authenticating" the origin of a public document and is issued by the Secretary of American Samoa upon request.
Documents to be used in the United States or in countries who are not a signatory of the Apostille Convention require a different authentication certificate in place of an apostille. This process is called "Document Legalization."
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You can also click here to view additional information. ​
Apostilles & Authentications
Want to request an Apostille or other authentication service online? Click below to start.
Submit Request Online
Verify an Apostille
Download Service Request Form
More on Apostilles....
You will need an Apostille if ALL of the following apply:
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The Country where the document was issued is Party to the Apostille Convention; AND
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The Country in which the document is to be used is party to the Apostille Convention; AND
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The law of the country where the document was issued considers it to be a public document; AND
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The county in which the document is to be used requires an Apostille in order to recognize it as a foreign public document.
In which countries does the Apostille Convention apply?
Click HERE to see the Status Table on the Hague Convention on Private International Law website listing all of the countries where the Apostille Convention applies.
What do I do if the country my Apostille is going to is not a part of the Apostille Convention?
Apostilles cannot be used in a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Instead, a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) or a Certificate of Authority for Notarial Acts (CANA) can be issued in place of an apostille. Please contact the Embassy or Consulate of the intending country to find out more information regarding acceptable authentication documents.
What to submit with your application....
When submitting your application for processing, please provide the following to ensure a quick turn-around:
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A completed service request form (client portion only)
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The document you wish to authenticate.​​​​​
- ​The document must be notarized in American Samoa, or have been signed by an approval authority commissioned by the American Samoa Government. ​
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A local, state, or government issued identification card of the requesting party. If you are applying on behalf of another person, we may request verification by way of a Power of Attorney.
NOTE: Original documents are required for all authenticating services. Copies of documents are not acceptable unless issued by the Office of Vital Statistics (i.e. Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate). An additional verification fee is required when submitting a copy of a vital document.
Processing-tip when applying for authentication services....
Walk-ins are preferred, but you may also apply online or email us a completed service request form and your documents to secretaryofamericansamoa@go.as.gov.
Processing Times: We will begin processing your request from the date we receive it, and may take up to 3 business days. If the application is rejected, returned, needs additional documentation, or is voluntarily taken back by the requester, processing times will defer.
Approval: Upon approval, we will provide you with a payment slip or an approval email to proceed to the Treasury Department (Accounts Payable Office) located on the first floor of the Executive Office Building in Utulei to pay your fees. Once payment is made, please provide us a copy of your receipt.
Fees: All authentication fees are $25.00 per document. Additional fees may apply. Click here for clarification on the types of additional fees that may be applicable.
***All fees must be paid at the Accounts Payable Office. We do not accept payment in office.***
Hours: The Office of the Secretary is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday (closed local & federal holidays). Authentication applications are accepted and processed from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm during hours of operation. Pick-up times may vary.
Location: Our office is located on the second floor of the Lumana'i Building in Fagatogo (towards the Fagatogo Malae).
Want to know more about Apostilles?
