Somalia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille has no effect. Documents follow the legalisation chain: notarisation where needed, then the Secretary of State, then federal authentication, then the Somali embassy.
Quick facts
The service that matters most to the diaspora is the other direction: Somali missions issue birth certificates to citizens living abroad, and those are accepted in place of a certificate from a local authority in Somalia. For families who cannot obtain records at home, that is the key that opens the passport file.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| State certification | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State of that state |
| Federal authentication | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| Consular legalisation | Published tariff | Embassy of Somalia |
| Birth certificate from a mission | Published tariff | For citizens living abroad |
| Certificate of non-criminal record | Published tariff | Equivalent to the one issued at home |
The missions also issue an equivalent of the certificate of non-criminal record, which otherwise comes from the criminal investigation authorities in Somalia — another document the diaspora would struggle to obtain remotely.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving office in Somalia exactly what it requires.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the Secretary of State certification, then the federal authentication.
- Book an appointment at the embassy for the consular step.
- Pay digitally; money orders are no longer accepted.
- Allow for the federal stage, which is the slowest.
Required documents
- Original document with the U.S. certifications attached.
- Copy of your identification.
- Proof of digital payment.
- Confirmed appointment.
What the embassy does
It issues passports and national identity cards through one integrated system, issues birth certificates and non-criminal record certificates to citizens abroad, legalises documents, handles visas and assists Somali nationals in difficulty.
Additional notes
An apostille will not work
If a service offers one for Somalia, they have not checked. The country is outside the convention.
The missions fill the gaps
Being able to obtain a birth certificate and a criminal record certificate from an embassy is what makes the passport process workable for people who left long ago.
Budget for the whole chain
Three or four fees plus shipping, and weeks at the federal stage.
Order two copies
Repeating this chain is slow and expensive.