Cambodia Document Legalization
LegalizationUsing US documents in Cambodia · Asia
Cambodia is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents need authentication plus embassy legalization. The chain: state or federal certification, then U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications authentication ($20/doc), then legalization at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia.
| Hague status | Not a member |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | Yes |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
| Embassy | Royal Embassy of Cambodia — 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 · fee: confirm with embassy |
Your exact steps for Cambodia
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The full legalization chain, in order
- Get the correct base document (certified vital-records copy, or notarize the document)
- State authority certification — ask for an authentication for a non-Hague country, not an apostille (state documents only)
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — $20 per document
- Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington D.C. — consular legalization
Embassy details & fees
Royal Embassy of Cambodia — 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011. Confirm the current consular fee directly with the embassy. Third-party services report a legalization fee of about $100 per document, but the embassy does not publish a confirmed public fee — confirm the current consular legalization fee directly with the embassy. Payment is by money order or cashier's check. Embassy website →
Timeline & cost, worked out
For a state document: the state fee (roughly $10 in many states) + $20 federal authentication + the embassy's consular fee. Budget several weeks — federal authentication alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail.
Which documents does Cambodia usually ask for
- Marriage certificate (state example: California)
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Diploma / degree certificate (state example: California)
- Power of attorney (state example: California)
- Corporate documents (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on Cambodia — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Frequently asked questions
+Does Cambodia accept a US apostille?
No. Cambodia is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so an apostille is not accepted. US documents need authentication by the US Department of State and legalization at the Cambodia embassy.
+What is the order of steps for Cambodia?
Get the correct base document, obtain the state or federal certification, have the US Department of State authenticate it, then legalize it at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia.
+How much does legalization for Cambodia cost?
The US Department of State charges $20 per document, plus the state fee for state documents. The Cambodia embassy sets its own consular fee — confirm it directly, as embassies change fees without much notice.
+How long does the Cambodia legalization chain take?
Plan for several weeks. The federal authentication step alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail, and the embassy step adds more. Start early, especially for visa deadlines.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table and the Royal Embassy of Cambodia(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.