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The DS-4194 form is an official document used by the US Department of State.
American citizens may need to use this form to authenticate official documents, such as a US birth certificate or other vital records.
The following page explains what the DS-4194 form is and how it is used in the United States.
The DS-4194 is a mandatory document for anyone wishing to authenticate a vital record in the US.
You can request a certificate of authenticity through the Office of Authentications. A completed DS-4194 form is an obligatory part of this process.
US citizens and foreign residents who need to submit documents to another nation may need a certificate to validate their authenticity. Certifying a document as authentic allows it to be recognized in foreign countries.
A certificate of authenticity is not the same as a certified copy of a document. It acts as proof that the related document is an original, and not a copy.
You can request an authentication certificate for a legalized document by mail. This is the most common and convenient way to obtain authentication.
Before you start the process, you should first check if you need a certificate of authentication or a US Department of State apostille. Depending on the issuing authority of the document(s), an American apostille may or may not be necessary.
The certification requirements depend on the document that requires authentication. All documents must have at least:
All mandatory documents must be sent to the Office of Authentications. The usual processing time is 2-3 weeks from the date the office receives the request.