Notarial and Other Public Services

Notarial Services

The Consular Section provides notarial services, including acknowledgements and affidavits.  There is generally a $50 fee for each such service.  Notarial services are provided on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. to noon.

Notarial services provided by the Embassy are primarily for the benefit of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.  Foreign nationals may also have documents notarized, but only if the documents will be used in the United States.

For us to notarize your documents, you must:

• Bring a government-issued photo ID;
• Understand your document (we are not allowed to explain the contents to you);
• Complete the document with the appropriate names, places, and dates before you arrive (but don’t sign it; you’ll sign it at the Embassy in front of a Consul);
• Pay the appropriate fee.  We accept only cash payments in U.S. dollars or Cape Verdean escudos.
• If your document requires the presence of witnesses in addition to the notarization, you must supply these witnesses.  Our staff cannot act as witnesses.
• We can only provide notary services for American citizens, legal permanent residents, their spouses and dependents, or when the documents to be notarized will be used in the United States.  We are usually unable to notarize documents brought in by foreign nationals to be used outside of the United States.
• We cannot attest to the authenticity of a translation. 

Please also be aware that the consular officer may refuse any notary service when:

• The host country does not authorize the performance of the service,
• The document will be used in transactions that may be prohibited by U.S. law,
• The officer believes that the document will be used for a purpose that is unlawful, improper, or inimical to the best interests of the United States, or
• The officer does not understand the document, due to language or any other reason.

Federal Benefits

The Embassy has information about Selective Service, Social Security, and Veterans benefits, as well as about other types of federal benefit programs.  It also provides assistance with Social Security Number (SSN) applications. 

Voting

The Consular section has voting information for all 50 states.  The Federal Postcard Application (pdf 82kb), which allows Americans to register to vote abroad, is available on-line, as well as in the Consular Section.  To learn more about voter registration and voting abroad, please visit the Federal Voting Assistance web site.  If you would like to contact the Consular Section about a voting issue, you may send an e-mail to: PraiaConsular@state.gov.