Authentication & Legalization for Taiwan
Taiwan is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so U.S. documents must go through state and federal authentication and then be legalized by a TECO office. We manage the full multi-step process for you.
Serving clients across California and nationwide. Same-day document preparation available for urgent cases.
Why Taiwan uses consular legalization instead of apostilles
Because Taiwan is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, U.S. documents must be authenticated at the state and federal level, then legalized by a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) before Taiwanese authorities will accept them.
- No apostille: Taiwan does not accept the standard apostille certificate many countries use, so a different multi-step path is required.
- State authentication: State-issued and notarized documents usually need certification from the Secretary of State where they were issued or notarized.
- Federal authentication: Many documents then require U.S. Department of State authentication in Washington, D.C. before TECO will legalize them.
- TECO legalization: The final step is legalization by the TECO office that has jurisdiction for your U.S. state, following TECO’s specific rules and fees.
Why people need U.S. documents legalized for Taiwan
Marriage registration, recognition of foreign divorces, and family-based immigration in Taiwan often require legalized birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees.
Employers, immigration authorities, or schools in Taiwan may request legalized diplomas, transcripts, FBI background checks, and experience letters for work permits or visa applications.
Setting up a company, opening bank accounts, or signing contracts in Taiwan can require legalized corporate documents and powers of attorney from U.S. companies.
Legalized powers of attorney, court orders, or estate documents may be needed to manage property, inheritance, or financial interests involving Taiwan.
Common documents we authenticate and legalize for use in Taiwan
Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; adoption judgments; name-change orders; and other certified court records needed in Taiwan.
High school and college diplomas, official transcripts, enrollment letters, and professional licenses for study, work, or licensing in Taiwan.
FBI background checks, state criminal history reports, and selected federal agency letters that require U.S. Department of State authentication and TECO legalization.
Articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, corporate resolutions, and powers of attorney for company formation, banking, or contracts in Taiwan.
Powers of attorney, consent letters, affidavits, and other notarized documents that must go through state and federal authentication and TECO legalization.
How we handle authentication and legalization for Taiwan
Step 1 — Document review
You tell us which documents you have, where they were issued, and what they will be used for in Taiwan. We confirm whether each one is in the right format and explain any corrections, reissuance, or notarization needed before authentication.
Step 2 — State authentication
We submit your state-issued and notarized documents to the appropriate Secretary of State for authentication, following that state’s specific rules, forms, and fees.
Step 3 — U.S. Department of State
When required, we send your authenticated documents to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. for federal authentication, which TECO often requires before legalization.
Step 4 — TECO legalization
We then submit your packet to the correct TECO office for your jurisdiction, follow their application process, and retrieve your fully legalized documents ready for use in Taiwan.
Key details for TECO legalization
- Correct TECO office: Each TECO office covers specific U.S. states. Using the wrong office can cause delays or rejections.
- Complete chain of authentication: TECO typically requires state and U.S. Department of State authentication before they will legalize your documents.
- Forms and fees: TECO offices have their own application forms, fee schedules, and mailing or in-person rules that must be followed exactly.
- Translations: For some uses, Taiwanese authorities may also require Chinese translations prepared according to their rules. We can help you understand when this applies.
How long Taiwan legalization can take
Often 3–10 business days by mail, depending on the state and whether expedited or walk-in options are available.
Typically 4–8 weeks by mail for federal authentication, depending on volume and current processing conditions.
Often 1–2 weeks once TECO receives your documents, depending on the office, volume, and whether you appear in person or apply by mail.
We give you a realistic timeline estimate based on your specific documents, TECO office, and deadline before you commit.
Ready to plan your Taiwan legalization?
Tell us which Taiwanese office will receive your documents, what they will be used for, and when you need them ready. We will map out the full authentication and TECO legalization path for you.
Same-day preparation available for many cases. Serving clients across California and nationwide.