Authentications and Legalizations

Appointments

Notarial services are performed on Tuesdays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo (Lauro Muller 1776).

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED. To make an appointment, please access the APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

Fees

Fees for each authentication or notarial service are U$S 50.00 or its equivalent in Uruguayan pesos, at the internal rate of exchange in the Consular Section to be paid in cash (Uruguayan pesos or American dollars) or credit card at the time of requesting the service.

Authentication or Legalization of Uruguayan Documents

Uruguayan documents that need to be “legalized” or authenticated to be used in the U.S. must first be “legalized” by local authorities and then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uruguay. In these “legalization” cases, the consular officer will be certifying the registered signatures of the officers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Uruguay.

Authentication of Documents issued in the U.S.

Consular officers cannot “legalize” documents issued in the U.S. The Department of State Authentications Office is responsible for signing and issuing certificates under the Seal of the U.S. For overseas use, the US certified document should be legalized by the corresponding Uruguayan Consulate or Embassy in the U.S. More information may be obtained at the Ministry of Foreign Affaires in Montevideo at Cuareim 1378 or with the appropriate Uruguayan Consulate in the U.S.

Acknowledgment and Attestation (Certify your Signature)

If your signature needs to be certified by a Notary Public you may request the service in person at the Consular Section in Montevideo, Uruguay, bringing a photo identification. Therefore, you will need to bring two identification documents: one to be handed in at the Embassy’s Reception Desk and one to be presented before the consular officer. You should bring your own witnesses when required, and they should also bring two identification documents, one for the Reception desk and the other to be presented to the consular officer at the time of witnessing your signature.

Translations

If the translator needs to certify his/her signature there are two options:

1. The translator may bring the translation to sign in front of the consular (see steps for Acknowledgment and Attestation above)
or


2. If the translator is registered with the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) and/or Ministry of Foreign Affaires, then once the translator’s signature has been certified by local authorities the consular officer will then authenticate the signature of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires Certifying Officer (see Authentication of Uruguayan Documents above). However, in these cases, the Uruguayan authorities legalization texts from SCJ and Ministry of Foreign Affaires won’t be translated into English.

Limitations to be observed in authenticating documents

Officials in the United States. Consular officers are not competent to authenticate the seals and signatures of notaries public or other officials in the United States. However, diplomatic and consular officers stationed at a United States diplomatic mission may certify to the seal of the Department of State (not the signature of the Secretary of State) if this is requested or required in particular cases by the national authorities of the foreign country.

NOTE: The Consular Section at Montevideo cannot provide legal advice