Cambodia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille will not be accepted there. A U.S. document going to Cambodia needs legalization instead: certification by the state that issued it, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, and then legalization by Cambodia’s embassy or a consulate in the U.S.
All U.S. documents for Cambodia are legalized at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C., whichever state they come from.
At a glance
Which mission takes your document
| Mission | States it covers |
|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. Royal Embassy of Cambodia |
Every U.S. state and federal documents |
Checked October 2026. Where a mission does not publish its district, we confirm before submitting. Federal documents such as an FBI check go to the embassy in Washington.
Documents we legalize most for Cambodia
| Document | Usually for |
|---|---|
| Marriage documents | Marrying a Cambodian citizen |
| Diploma, FBI check | Work permits and teaching |
Things worth knowing
- Cambodia has a single mission in the U.S., its embassy in Washington.
- Khmer translation is commonly required in Cambodia.
How it works
Step 1
Notarize if needed
Private documents only. Vital records and court records skip this.
Step 2
State certification
By the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federal documents skip this.
Step 3
U.S. Department of State
Federal authentication in Washington, D.C.
Step 4
Cambodia embassy or consulate
The mission in Washington, D.C..
Cambodia Embassy Legalization: common questions
Can I get an apostille for Cambodia instead?
No. Cambodia is not in the Apostille Convention, so it needs the legalization chain ending at its embassy or consulate.
Does it matter which consulate I use?
No. There is one mission for the whole U.S.
How long does it take?
The state and federal stages take one to three weeks together, and the embassy stage adds its own time, which varies. Plan for several weeks in total, and longer around holidays.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
HCCH Apostille Convention status table
Ready to get started?
Tell us the document and its state, and we will run the whole chain to the right Cambodia mission.
Related: Embassy legalization · Non-Hague countries · Country checker · Translation requirements