U.S. Embassy in Finland

Overview

Notarial services are for all nationalities and are by appointment only. Normally the document to be notarized is for use within the United States, although there may be exceptions. If you have multiple documents to be notarized, you should only make one appointment. You will pay $50 USD, at the Embassy or Consulate on your day of appointment, for each notary seal required.

On the day of your appointment, you must:

• • • Bring the complete, unsigned documents to be notarized. Even if there are pages that do not require signature or seals, you must present the entire packet.
    • Present a valid government-issued ID such as a passport or driver’s license. The name on the documents must be the same as the name on your ID.
    • Pay $50 USD per notary seal.
    • Be of sound mind and understand the document you want notarized. Consular staff is not permitted to explain contents to you.
    • If your notary service requires a witness, you must arrange for your own witnesses. Consular staff cannot witness your documents.

Examples of Notarial Services Performed At No Charge

DS-3053: To notarize a DS-3053 Statement of Consent: Issuance of a U.S. Passport To a Minor Under Age 16 (PDF, 345K), please review the instructions listed on the form, the information fields that must be completed, and bring your original, valid, government-issued photo ID as well as a photocopy of both sides. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.

Power of Attorney (in conjunction with U.S. passport applications): When both parents are unable to be personally present to apply for a minor’s U.S. passport, and they wish to designate a third party to do so, they may sign a power of attorney (POA) before a notary public. This POA must contain specific data fields; see a sample.  Note that photocopies of both sides of each parents’ original, valid, government-issued photo ID must be included with the POA. As the U.S. Department of State requires that this form be notarized, this service is performed free of charge.

At the Direct Request of a U.S. Municipal, State or Federal Entity

At the Direct Request of a Foreign Government

Notarial Services We Are Unable to Provide

Medallion Signature Guarantees
Consular officers are not authorized to provide a signature guarantee/medallion guarantee service.  A Medallion Signature Guarantee is not a notary service, but a special procedure related to securities, which can only be performed by an authorized representative of a financial institution participating in a medallion program approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may be contacted at http://www.sec.gov/answers/sigguar.htm.

Apostille
The apostille is a validation stamp ensuring that a particular document is recognized in certain foreign countries (countries that signed The Hague Convention as of October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents). Examples of this are U.S. birth certificates.

The Embassy is not authorized to provide apostilles or assist in obtaining them.

If you have a document which needs an apostille, you should contact the relevant authority in the State where your document was issued. The National Association of Secretaries of State can provide additional information. (http://www.nass.org/state-business-services/apostilles-document-authentications/)

Please note that when both countries have signed the Hague convention, the apostille procedure must be followed. Finland and the United States are both signatories to the Hague convention.