Nepal Document Legalization
LegalizationUsing US documents in Nepal · Asia
Nepal is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents need authentication plus embassy legalization. The chain: state or federal certification, then U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications authentication ($20/doc), then legalization at the Embassy of Nepal.
| Hague status | Not a member |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | Yes |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
| Embassy | Embassy of Nepal — 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007 · fee: confirm with embassy |
Your exact steps for Nepal
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The full legalization chain, in order
- Get the correct base document (certified vital-records copy, or notarize the document)
- State authority certification — ask for an authentication for a non-Hague country, not an apostille (state documents only)
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — $20 per document
- Embassy of Nepal, Washington D.C. — consular attestation
- Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation after arrival in Nepal (commonly required)
Embassy details & fees
Embassy of Nepal — 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007. Confirm the current consular fee directly with the embassy. Fees vary by document type (for example, marriage certificates and police reports carry different fees, and some financial documents require the applicant to appear in person), so a single fee cannot be listed — confirm the current fee for your document type with the embassy. Embassy website →
Timeline & cost, worked out
For a state document: the state fee (roughly $10 in many states) + $20 federal authentication + the embassy's consular fee. Budget several weeks — federal authentication alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail.
Which documents does Nepal usually ask for
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Diploma / degree certificate (state example: California)
- Power of attorney (state example: California)
- Single status affidavit (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on Nepal — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Frequently asked questions
＋Does Nepal accept a US apostille?
No. Nepal is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so an apostille is not accepted. US documents need authentication by the US Department of State and legalization at the Nepal embassy.
＋What is the order of steps for Nepal?
Get the correct base document, obtain the state or federal certification, have the US Department of State authenticate it, then legalize it at the Embassy of Nepal. Nepal commonly requires a further attestation by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arrival in Nepal. Some documents require the applicant to appear in person at the embassy.
＋How much does legalization for Nepal cost?
The US Department of State charges $20 per document, plus the state fee for state documents. The Nepal embassy sets its own consular fee — confirm it directly, as embassies change fees without much notice.
＋How long does the Nepal legalization chain take?
Plan for several weeks. The federal authentication step alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail, and the embassy step adds more. Start early, especially for visa deadlines.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table and the Embassy of Nepal(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.