DS-4194 Request for Authentications Service
Requests authentication of a U.S. public document by the State Department's Office of Authentications, so a foreign government will accept it. Immigration cases need it when a foreign authority demands an authenticated U.S. birth, marriage, court, or corporate record - adoption and overseas marriage cases most often.
- Fee
- $20 per document, non-refundable
- Fee waiver
- Not available
- Who files
- Individuals, institutions, and government agencies needing a U.S. document authenticated for use abroad.
- Where to file
- By mail to the Office of Authentications, with the documents and payment.
Part of these processes
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Documents going to a country party to the Hague Apostille Convention usually need an apostille from the issuing state instead, not federal authentication.
Official page. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/replace-certify-docs/authenticate-your-document/requesting-authentication-services.html. Download the form there, never from a third-party site; check the edition date and fee before filing.