For documents travelling between the United States and Guyana, the honest answer is to ask the receiving institution first. Guyana has traditionally used consular legalisation rather than the apostille, and the route that will actually be accepted depends on who is receiving the paper.
Quick facts
The missions state it plainly in their own requirements: all documents must be verified. That verification, rather than any single stamp, is what determines whether a file proceeds.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| State certification or apostille | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of that state |
| Federal certification | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Consular legalisation | Published consular fee | Guyanese mission |
| Guyanese certificates | Charged in Guyana | General Register Office |
| Notarisation | $5–$25 per signature | U.S. notary public |
Life certificates are among the services the missions provide, which matters for Guyanese pensioners abroad who have to certify periodically that they are alive.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the institution in Guyana exactly which certification it requires.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification, and the federal one where the chain requires it.
- Book the consular appointment if legalisation is needed.
- Keep the chain intact and order a spare set.
Required documents
- Original document, intact and unaltered.
- Completed request and payment.
- Valid photo identification.
- Prepaid return envelope for postal filings.
What the missions do
They issue passports and visas, register births and deaths occurring abroad, obtain birth, marriage and death certificates from Guyana, issue life certificates and assist Guyanese nationals in difficulty.
Additional notes
Confirm before paying
Because the position on the apostille is not uniform, one question to the receiving office saves an entire wasted chain.
Certificates come from Guyana
Birth, marriage and death certificates are issued by the General Register Office, and the missions can obtain them on your behalf.
Order two copies
Guyanese offices keep what they receive, and requesting documents from Georgetown takes time.
Check the spelling
When a certificate arrives, check the name before doing anything else. The procedure for correcting it is set out on the civil records page.