◎General Instructions for Document Authentication

General Instructions for Document Authentication

All documents must be issued in the following six states of our jurisdiction: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska. If the document falls under another jurisdiction, please contact the TECO office in charge of that jurisdiction.

Inquiring or attaching supplementary documents via email, please indicate the applicant's name, authentication item, and type of supplementary documents in the subject line.

Summary:

Applicants must submit a completed “Application Form for Authentication”, with all required personal information duly filled out and bearing the applicant’s original handwritten signature. Application forms signed electronically and then printed will not be accepted.
One application form is sufficient for multiple documents submitted by the same applicant. Each applicant must submit a separate form.
Applicants must provide a clear, full-size (1:1 or larger) copy of their passport or government-issued ID. Illegible or reduced copies will not be accepted.
As identification requirements may vary depending on the type of document to be authenticated, applicants must submit the identification documents specified for each service. This office reserves the right to request additional identification documents if deemed necessary upon review.
Applications that do not meet the requirements (e.g., missing originals or improper sealing) may be rejected or returned for completion.
If a document requires notarization by a Public Notary, it must be notarized by a notary public commissioned within one of the six states under this office’s jurisdiction before it can be authenticated by this office.

The processing time:

General case: The cases are processed within 7 to 10 business days after acceptance.
Expedited service: Application must be processed as a walk-in and cannot be handled by mail. All required materials must be prepared in advance for acceptance. When processing, additional proof documents for expedited handling (such as flight tickets or other explanatory documents) must be provided. The cases are processed within 3 to 5 business days after acceptance.
Applying via mail will take an additional 1 to 4 business days to review the completeness of the required materials. We will inform the applicant if the required materials are incomplete. Otherwise, the case will proceed straight away until it's done.
Applicants submitting by mail are responsible for tracking delivery to this office. Once the application is received, if no request for additional documents is issued, it indicates that the case has entered the authentication process. Please allow sufficient time for processing.
Due to the volume and complexity of authentication procedures, this office does not provide real-time status updates. Applicants are advised to inquire about the status only after 7–10 business days. When making an inquiry, please provide the receipt number or the applicant’s full name as shown on the identification document for verification.

Fees and Payment Methods:

***Please note that effective March 1, 2026, Personal Checks will no longer be accepted as a form of payment.***

All fees are charged in U.S. dollars. The authentication fee is $15 per document. Payment is accepted in cash, money order, or cashier’s check, payable to “TECO.”
An additional $7.50 per document applies for expedited service. This fee may be included in the same money order or cashier’s check. As coins are not accepted at the counter, please consult staff for payment instructions.
Applicants may include the authentication fee(s) and USPS Priority Mail postage ($15) for domestic return in the United States in the same money order or cashier’s check.
If the required fees are not provided, this office may request additional payment. Processing will begin only after full payment is received.
Applicants paying in cash must provide the exact amount, as change may not be available.

Return Envelope:

For the return envelope, the options are as follows:

For Domestic: Either pay $15 for USPS Priority Mail or any other prepaid domestic shipping method.
International: We only accept prepaid shipping labels from FedEx, UPS, etc. as the carrier.

The return envelope must state the "recipient's full name and address."
Choosing a shipping company such as FedEx, UPS, etc. as the carrier, please fill in the applicant's or or their designated contact's information as the "sender." If this requirement is not followed, applicants will be asked to make corrections or switch to in-person pickup. Failure to respond after notification will result in the application being rejected. We are not responsible for any damage, loss, or return of the mail during transit, nor can we pay for the difference in postage. For postal-related issues, please contact the carrier.

Other notes:

Please choose reliable carriers and secure shipping methods for all important documents.
Please mail the application to the address: One Union Square, 600 University St., Suite 2020, Seattle, WA 98101, U.S.A.

Document Authentication Services Include:

The document authentication division line: 206-441-4586 ext. 311

The consular services inquiry email: infoseattle@mofa.gov.tw

Applicants with document authentication questions are welcome to inquire via email in advance. Please include the applicant’s name and application category in the subject, and include the reason for the application, a brief applicant background, contact phone number, etc in the email.

Forms:

Application Form for Authentication