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Notarials
Notarial services are available for all nationalities by appointment

Notice

For notarial services, please send an email to VisaTallinn@state.gov.

Overview

Hand signing documentNotarial services are for all nationalities and are by appointment only. Normally the document to be notarized is for use within the United States, although there may be exceptions. If you have multiple documents to be notarized, you should only make one appointment. You will pay $50 USD, at the Embassy or Consulate on your day of appointment, for each notary seal required.

On the day of your appointment, you must:

  • Bring the complete, unsigned documents to be notarized. Even if there are pages that do not require signature or seals, you must present the entire packet.
  • Present a valid government-issued ID such as a passport or driver’s license. The name on the documents must be the same as the name on your ID.
  • Pay $50 USD per notary seal.
  • Be of sound mind and understand the document you want notarized. Consular staff is not permitted to explain contents to you.
  • If your notary service requires a witness, you must arrange for your own witnesses. Consular staff cannot witness your documents.

Examples of Notarial Services Performed At No Charge

DS-3053: To notarize a DS-3053 Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport To a Minor Under Age 16 (PDF, 345K), please review the instructions listed on the form, the information fields that must be completed, and bring your original, valid, government-issued photo ID as well as a photocopy of both sides. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.Scales, Seal, Pen

Power of Attorney (in conjunction with U.S. passport applications): When both parents are unable to be personally present to apply for a minor’s U.S. passport, and they wish to designate a third party to do so, they may sign a power of attorney (POA) before a notary public. This POA must contain specific data fields; see a sample.  Note that photocopies of both sides of each parents’ original, valid, government-issued photo ID must be included with the POA. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.

At the Direct Request of a U.S. Municipal, State or Federal Entity

At the Direct Request of a Foreign Government

Other Judicial Services

The Consular Section provides other judicial services in civil matters, in addition to notarial services. For example, the Consular Section provides assistance for issues relating to service of process in Estonia, taking a deposition of a person in Estonia, or other matters relating to a civil judicial matter in the United States. Please contact the Consular Section to discuss what services can be provided for your specific matter, and the fees for such services. You may also read the U.S. Department of State’s general information on judicial services.

Cooperation on criminal matters is governed by specific agreements between the government of the United States and the government of Estonia.

Authentications

Authentication of an Estonian Document for Use in the United States

Estonia and the United States are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (also known as the Hague Legalization Convention). Accordingly, in order to authenticate (or “legalize”) a document issued by a governmental entity in Estonia for use in the United States, you must obtain an “apostille” from the Estonian government. Effective January 1, 2010, all Estonian notaries are empowered issue apostilles for Estonian public documents. Find an Estonian notary. Please also read the U.S. Department of State’s explanation of apostilles.

Authentication of a U.S. Document for Use in Estonia

Estonia and the United States are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention (also known as the Hague Legalization Convention). Accordingly, in order to authenticate (or “legalize”) a document issued by a governmental entity in the United States for use in Estonia, you must obtain an “apostille” from the state where the document was issued (or from a federal office for certain documents issued by the U.S. federal government). The U.S. Embassy does not issue apostilles. Please read the U.S. Department of State’s explanation of apostilles.

In many countries, there is one office that issues all apostilles for that country. In the United States, however, each state issues apostilles for its own documents. Thus, for example, a California birth certificate must be authenticated with an apostille issued by the state of California. Similarly, an Illinois marriage certificate must be authenticated by an apostille issued by the state of Illinois. Each state maintains its own website explaining how to obtain an apostille from that state (easily found using standard search engines on the internet). Please also see the list of the state (and federal) authentication authorities in the United States.

Useful Information

Notarial Services of U.S. Consular Officers Abroad

U.S. Birth Certificate Apostilles

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