South Sudan is not part of the apostille system, so documents follow the legalisation chain ending at the embassy. The compensation is that English is the official language, so no translation is needed — a real saving compared with most countries covered here.
Quick facts
Documents held inside South Sudan are the harder problem. Civil registration is young and coverage uneven, so obtaining a certificate from a particular county may not be straightforward. Ask the consular section what alternatives it accepts.
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 certification | Embassy of South Sudan | Washington |
| Translation | Not applicable | English is official |
Because independence came in 2011, many family documents predate the country and were issued by Sudan. That is common rather than exceptional, and the consular section deals with it routinely.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving office in South Sudan exactly what it requires.
- Write to the consular address about the embassy’s step and its fee.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification and then the federal authentication.
- Submit on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
- Send tracked and keep copies.
Required documents
- Original document with the U.S. certifications attached.
- Copy of your identification and nationality certificate.
- Older Sudanese documents where they are what the family holds.
- Payment in the accepted form.
- Prepaid tracked return envelope.
What the embassy does
It issues new passports and renewals, issues regular and gratis visas, certifies documents and assists South Sudanese nationals in the United States.
No offices currently listed.
Additional notes
An apostille will not work
If a service offers one for South Sudan, they have not checked.
Pre-2011 documents
Documents issued by Sudan before independence are a normal part of a South Sudanese family file. Ask how yours are treated rather than assuming they are worthless.
No translation
A genuine saving. Take advantage of it.
Order two copies
Replacing anything that has travelled is slow.