Public Services

Notarial Services

By appointment only.

Notarial Services are available to all U.S. passport holders and to foreign nationals with documents destined for use in the United States. They are executed by Consular Officers and may include documents to be signed before a Consular Officer, statements made under oath, affidavits, and acknowledgments.

Please bring:

• A valid passport or piece of identity issued by a government agency (e.g.: A driver's license is acceptable, a student ID is not);
• The document to be notarized;
• $30.00 or the equivalent in Leke, per initial signature/seal (each additional signature/seal provided at the same time in connection with the same transaction will cost $20.00 or the equivalent in Leke) Note: The U.S. Embassy in Tirana does not accept checks or credit cards; the fees are paid by cash only;
• If your document must also be witnessed, please bring your witnesses with you. Consular officers and staff may not be witnesses for notarial purposes.

There are three basic notarial services that a U.S. consular officer can perform and that are available at the Office of American Services: Acknowledgments, Attestations, and Affidavits.

An acknowledgment is where an individual declares to a consular officer that a document was executed freely and voluntarily. The Consular Officer certifies that this individual appeared before him/her and executed the document freely and voluntarily. This is the most common form of notarial service. If there is not sufficient space on the document, a separate sheet can be attached for the acknowledgment. The Consular Officer will ask:

"Are you signing this document of your own free will?"

An attestation is where an individual declares to a Consular Officer that he/she witnesses the execution of a document. The consular officer certifies that the witness appeared before the Consular Officer and stated that the witness observed the execution of the document and signed in lieu of an acknowledgment.

An affidavit is a written declaration or statement of facts made voluntarily by an individual, under oath or affirmation, before a Consular Officer. For example, a witness' statement of facts for use in a judicial proceeding would be made as an affidavit. In an affidavit, the Consular Officer administers an oath to the person making the statement. For any individual having conscientious scruples against taking an oath, an affirmation may be taken in place of an oath. The Consular Officer will ask a question in substance as:

"Do you swear (or affirm) that the statements which you are signing before me are true?"

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana is no longer authorized to make True copies of academic credentials, college transcripts or diplomas.

We can provide the following documents:

• Affidavits;
• Certificate of Birth and Freedom to Marry (please see also Marriage in Albania) - This affidavit is used in place of one's birth certificate when getting married in Albania;
• Sworn Statements