Assume the full legalisation chain rather than an apostille, and confirm before spending anything. Turkmen administration works in Turkmen and Russian, so a translation is part of the cost, and the consular step goes through the single embassy in Washington.
Quick facts
Ask the embassy what its step costs before paying for federal authentication. That advice applies across this directory, and it applies doubly where nothing is published.
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 of Turkmenistan | Washington |
| Translation | As the receiving office requires | Russian or Turkmen |
Documents issued in Turkmenistan are certified in Ashgabat, which generally requires someone there to attend in person.
How to prepare a document
- Ask the receiving office in Turkmenistan exactly what it requires.
- Ask the embassy about its step and the fee before starting.
- Order a certified copy, or have the private document notarised.
- Obtain the state certification and then the federal authentication.
- Arrange the translation as instructed.
- Send tracked and keep copies.
Required documents
- Original document with the U.S. certifications attached.
- Translation where required.
- Copy of your identification.
- Payment in the accepted form.
- Prepaid tracked return envelope.
What the embassy does
It handles passport matters, issues visas once an invitation has been approved, legalises documents and assists Turkmen nationals in the United States.
Additional notes
Confirm before paying
Federal authentication is slow and costs money. Establish the route first.
Russian translation
Usually easier and cheaper to obtain in the United States than Turkmen, and widely accepted.
Order two copies
Replacing anything that has travelled to Ashgabat is slow.
Never certify a photocopy
The certification attaches to an original or a certified copy from the record keeper.