Step-by-Step Guide: Legalizing Corporate Documents for Jordan

U.S. corporate documents intended for use in Jordan must go through a complete legalization process to be accepted by Jordanian authorities. The U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce (USACC) facilitates each stage, ensuring documents meet all U.S. and Jordanian certification requirements.

Step 1: Identify Required Corporate Documents

Determine which corporate papers need legalization, such as Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Good Standing, Powers of Attorney, or Board Resolutions. Ensure originals are clear, signed, and complete before submission.

Step 2: Complete Notarization

All corporate documents must be properly notarized by a U.S. notary public. Confirm that the notarial wording and seal are accurate and that no pages are missing or unsigned.

Step 3: Obtain State Certification

Submit the notarized documents to the Secretary of State for certification of the notary’s authority. The state’s authentication seal must be clearly affixed to proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Secure U.S. Department of State Authentication

After state certification, send the documents to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, in Washington, D.C. Federal documents, such as those from FDA or USDA, go directly to this step without state certification.

Step 5: Translate Documents (If Required)

If the receiving authority in Jordan requires Arabic translations, have them translated and notarized by a certified translator. The translated copy may need to follow the same authentication chain as the original.

Step 6: Final Legalization by the Embassy of Jordan

Submit the authenticated documents to the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C. The Embassy applies its official seal, completing the legalization process. Confirm submission requirements, fees, and processing timelines in advance.

Step 7: Review Fees, Timelines, and Common Errors

Processing times vary by document type and issuing authority. Avoid delays by ensuring:

• Correct notarization wording.
  
  

• Proper state and federal seals.
  
  

• Certified copies instead of plain photocopies.
  
  

• Complete payment and return shipping details.
  
  

Step 8: Keep Records and Tracking Proof

Maintain copies of each authenticated document and record tracking numbers for every submission. This ensures full traceability and verification at all stages.

Conclusion

Legalizing corporate documents for Jordan requires sequential authentication at the state, federal, and embassy levels. Careful preparation and adherence to official requirements help ensure that documents are valid for legal or commercial use in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.