Equatorial Guinea is not part of the apostille system, so documents follow the legalisation chain: notarisation where needed, the Secretary of State of the issuing state, federal authentication, and then the Equatorial Guinean mission. Documents in English will generally need a Spanish translation.
Quick facts
Because Spanish is the working language of the administration, an English-language certificate that has been apostilled but not translated will usually not be accepted. Confirm with the receiving office who must produce the translation.
The chain
| Step | Who does it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notarisation | U.S. notary public | For private documents |
| State certification | Secretary of State | Of the issuing state |
| Federal authentication | U.S. Department of State | Slowest stage |
| Consular legalisation | Embassy or consulate general | Washington or Houston |
| Spanish translation | As the receiving office requires | Ask before commissioning |
Filing is by post with a prepaid courier return envelope, or in person. Cash is not accepted for any service.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving office exactly what it requires, including the translation.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification, then the federal authentication.
- Complete the consular registry if you are a citizen and have not done so.
- Pay online or by money order and post the file with a prepaid return envelope.
- Keep copies of everything before it leaves your hands.
Required documents
- Original document with the U.S. certifications attached.
- Spanish translation where required.
- Copy of your identification.
- Proof of payment.
- Prepaid courier return envelope.
What the missions do
They maintain the consular registry, handle biometric passport applications through the national portal, legalise documents, issue visas, and assist Equatorial Guinean citizens across a jurisdiction spanning North and Central America.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
Budget for the whole chain
Several fees plus courier costs in both directions add up well beyond what an apostille would cost.
The federal stage is the bottleneck
It takes weeks and cannot be skipped.
Order two copies
Repeating this chain is slow and expensive.
Never legalise a photocopy
The certification attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.