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Authentication of Documents

The documents originated from Sri Lanka

For attestation of a Power of attorney/affidavit, the principal must present the legal document at the Mission in person with the valid Sri Lankan Passport/ National ID and two witnesses (Sri Lankan Nationals holding valid Sri Lankan Passport/ National ID) accompanying the applicant. This Mission will do only the signature certification in the presence of an authorized diplomatic officer of the Mission, assuming no responsibility for the content of the documents.

The documents issued by the concerned authorities/institutions in Sri Lanka must be certified by the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Relations (MFR) in Sri Lanka, prior submission to the Mission for attestations/certifications.

Ministry of Foreign Relations (MFR) in Sri Lanka has introduced a Remote Document Attestation System facilitating Sri Lankan nationals living abroad to obtain the Electronic Consular Certification from the Consular Division of MOFA in Sri Lanka (only for Sri Lankan documents). However, applicants may contact the Consular Division of this Mission for further assistance in this regard.

 
The documents originated in the United States

The documents issued by the relevant authorities/institutions in the United States such as educational certificates, Birth / Death & Marriage certificates, and police clearance certificates, Power of Attorney documents, Affidavits should have the Apostille or Certificate of Authentication from the Department of State of origin. This Mission assumes no responsibility for the content of the documents and only the signature certification of the attester will be done at this Mission.

In order to obtain Apostille or Certificate of Authentication from the Department of State, the document(s) must be notarized first by a qualified Notary/Lawyer where the applicant resides. Then the notarized document(s) must be certified by the Clerk’s Office of the County (County Clerk) where the Notary/Lawyer is registered.

 
Applicants may contact below authorities of relevant states where he/she resides, for Apostille and Authentication services.
 
New York:       New York Department of State
  Division of Licensing Services
  123 William Street, 2nd floor
  New York, NY 10038
 
New Jersey:    New Jersey Department of The Treasury
  Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services
  33 W State Street
  Trenton, NJ 08608
 
Connecticut:   Office of the Secretary of the State
  State of Connecticut
  30 Trinity Street
  Hartford CT 06115-0470
 

The documents originated from Other Countries

The documents issued by the relevant authorities/institutions in other countries must be certified by the State Government in the relevant country of origin. Then the certified documents must be certified by the accredited Diplomatic Mission of Sri Lanka in the relevant country. This Mission assumes no responsibility for the documents and only the signature certification of the attester will be done at this Mission.
 
 
Prescribed Fee
Revised consular fees as per the Government Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2057/35 dated 09.02.2018 with effect from 01st March 2018.
 
Consular Function

Fee (USD)

 

  Sri Lanka Missions / Posts accept and forward  a document through Electronic Document
  Attestation System e-DAS for attestation by the Ministry
  When the document holder is a Sri Lankan National

25.00 

  When the document holder is a Foreign National

35.00 

 

 

  Attestation, certification and authentication (Legalization) of Documents

  Caveat order

30.00 

  Attestation of documents as a Justice of Peace

68.00 

  Swearing of affirming an affidavit

68.00 

  Administering an oath or affirmation

68.00 

  Attestation of Power of Attorney or Proxy

68.00 

  Issuance of a certified true copy

12.00 

 

 

  Attestation of a document (except export documents and educational certificates)

  (i)  If the document owner is a Si Lankan national

43.00 

  (ii) If the document owner is a Foreign national

47.00 

 

 

  Attestation of Educational Certificates

12.00 

  Attestation of a set of export documents

60.00 

 

 

  Other Documents
  All certificates including life certificate furnished by Sri Lankan pensioners for pension
  purpose

FOC

  Documents relating to burial/ cremation of human remains

FOC

  Documents relating to the dispatch of human remains to Sri Lanka

FOC

  Issuance of all other letters / Certificates

43.00  

  Issuance of no objection letter

30.00 

 
 
Payment Options
Payments should be done at this Mission by cash/money orders/bank drafts/cheques.

Money orders / Certified cheques should be made payable to the “Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, New York”.

Card payments are not acceptable.

 
Submission of applications
Applications can be submitted to the consular division of this Mission by post or by hand. The Consular Division is open from Monday to Friday between 09 am to 01 pm EST. The physical and mailing address is as follows:
 
Consular Division
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
820, 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
 
Note:
  • For attestation of a Power of Attorney / Affidavit, Applicants only residing in States of  New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are needed to present at this Mission in person with the documents. Signature certifications are not done anyway if the documents received by post.
 
Processing Time
02 – 04 business days
 
 
Return of the documents
Applicants will be informed once this Mission received their new passport. He/she is required to bring the current passport (except for lost passports) and cash receipt issued in order to collect the new passport.
 
If the applicant is unable to collect the passport personally he/she should send a nominated person with a letter of authorization to collect the passport on behalf of the applicant. The nominated person should provide the authorization letter along with his / her photo ID, the applicant's current passport, cash receipt.
 
At request of the applicant, the new passport will be returned by post.
 
If the return of the documents is desired by post, applicants in the United States may choose one of the following options and make payment in addition to the application fee:
  • Domestic Mailing Fee - Federal Express (FedEx)                – USD 20.00 (within United States)
  • International Mailing Fee - Federal Express (FedEx)           – Relevant Country Rate
This Mission is not responsible for any documents lost in the post.
 

For inquiries and further assistance,

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, New York
Consular Division
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
820 2nd Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
 
+1 212 986 - 7040 (Ext: 118)
 
Consular Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Consular Affairs Division
2nd Floor, Ceylinco Building
Janadhipathi Mawatha
Colombo 01
 
+94 112 446 302 / +94 112 338 812