Need to have documents authenticated by TECO San Francisco?
For Powers of Attorney, Letters of Authorization, Statements of Foreign Residence, Renunciations of Inheritance, and other documents signed in the U.S., if you need to use them in Taiwan, you may be required to have them authenticated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco. Kaopu Notary provides document review, notarization, required Apostille services, and TECO document authentication agency services.
TECO document authentication and Apostille are not the same service
TECO San Francisco has its own independent document authentication process. When a document is intended for use in Taiwan, whether or not it requires TECO authentication depends on the requirements of the receiving agency in Taiwan and the document category requirements set by TECO.
For general signed documents such as Powers of Attorney or declarations, it is usually required that the document first be notarized by a Notary Public within TECO's jurisdiction.
For certain specific documents, such as those involving real estate, inheritance, or specimen signature certificates, TECO officially specifies: The Notary Public's signature and seal must first be authenticated with an Apostille by the Secretary of State in the state where they were notarized, before being submitted to TECO.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="1"}
Different documents, different paths
TECO authentication does not mean "all documents must be Apostilled first." The most important step is to confirm the document type.
General Power of Attorney / Declaration
For Powers of Attorney, Letters of Authorization, Statements of Foreign Residence, and other general signed documents, they are typically notarized first by a Notary Public who meets jurisdictional requirements.
Once the documents are prepared, they are submitted according to TECO San Francisco's authentication requirements.
Real Estate / Inheritance / Specimen Signature Documents
If the document involves real estate, inheritance, or a specimen signature certificate, TECO officials require that the Notary's signature and seal must first be Apostilled by the local Secretary of State.
After completing the Apostille, the document can then proceed to TECO for authentication.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="2"}
The Core Process of TECO Document Authentication
The path depends on the specific document, but the general logic is: prepare the correct document first, complete necessary U.S. notarization or Apostille, then submit to TECO San Francisco for authentication.
The purpose of TECO authentication is to complete the required procedures for foreign documents used in Taiwan according to consular regulations, which does not replace the review of the document content itself by the receiving agency in Taiwan.
Common documents we process
Different documents may require different materials. Below are common types of signed documents found in the TECO San Francisco official document list.
Authorize relatives, lawyers, or other trustees in Taiwan to handle real estate, legal, administrative, or other matters.
Letters of Authorization or other designated authorization documents, prepared according to the specific purpose.
Documents like the Statement of Foreign Residence used to clarify the applicant's residency status in the United States.
Renunciation of Inheritance or other inheritance-related declarations; these may involve additional requirements for a state-level Apostille.
TECO San Francisco has its own jurisdictional requirements
TECO San Francisco's current official list states that documents submitted for authentication should be notarized within the consular jurisdiction of the office.
The jurisdiction currently listed in the official list includes Northern California, Nevada, and Utah.
Therefore, not every notarized document from any state can be sent directly to TECO San Francisco. After you place an order, we will verify whether the location of signing and notarization meets the jurisdictional requirements.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="3"}
Prepare identification documents according to your specific situation
The identification requirements are not identical for applicants who use Chinese names versus those who use only English/foreign names.
For instance, in the official list, applicants using English names may be accepted with a valid U.S. passport; or an expired U.S. passport accompanied by a valid driver's license/ID; or a valid foreign passport accompanied by a U.S. Green Card, or valid residency documents such as F-1, E-1, H-1B visas.
Thus, our new page no longer lists "driver's license + Green Card" as fixed requirements for everyone, but rather confirms the necessary documents based on the applicant's actual residency status.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="4"}
The Process
From document review to TECO authentication, Kaopu Notary assists with the entire process.
Order Online
Complete your order on this page, and provide the document(s) for Taiwan along with your basic identity information.
Check TECO Path
We verify the document type, TECO San Francisco's jurisdictional requirements, and whether an Apostille is needed first.
Complete Notarization
For documents requiring your signature, sign and notarize in the presence of a Notary Public that meets the jurisdictional requirements, per TECO instructions.
Apostille / TECO Authentication
If an Apostille is required, we process that at the state level first; then, we submit the document to TECO San Francisco for authentication.
Delivery of Originals
Once TECO authentication is complete, we ship or deliver the original documents according to your order instructions.
What should you prepare before ordering?
Provide the Power of Attorney, declaration, or other complete document intended for use in Taiwan.
Prepare your passport, driver's license, green card, or other applicable ID information. The actual combination is determined by your specific status.
The TECO application form requires stating the document's specific purpose, such as real estate, inheritance, authorization, or other matters.
If a Taiwan court, land office, bank, lawyer, or other agency has provided a template, we recommend prioritizing that version.
TECO has its own document authentication application form
TECO San Francisco's official list requires the submission of an Application Form for Document Authentication, including applicant information, the document's purpose, and the title of the submitted document.
After you place your order, we will confirm the specific document category and purpose based on your actual case, avoiding confusion between different service types.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="5"}
TECO allows certain applications to be submitted via mail
TECO San Francisco's official list clearly states that document authentication can be applied for via mail.
For mail-in applications, a copy of a Taiwan passport is acceptable, but copies of other identification documents may need to be notarized by a Notary Public.
The office also requires a return USPS envelope that meets their specifications. Kaopu Notary will select the appropriate submission and document return method based on your specific order.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="6"}
Official TECO fees and Kaopu Notary service fees are separate
TECO San Francisco's current official document list states the authentication fee is $15 per document to be authenticated.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="7"}
If a document requires a Notary, a Secretary of State Apostille, courier services, pickup/delivery, or other services, these are considered additional steps and fees.
The price shown on the Shopify product should be understood as the service fee for Kaopu Notary’s document review, coordination, and handling; please do not mistake it for the government fee charged by TECO.
Do not modify the text after signing
TECO San Francisco's official list explicitly reminds applicants: Documents such as a Power of Attorney should not be modified at will during the submission process.
If there is an error in the content, the document should be re-prepared, rather than applying corrections, additions, or deletions to a document that has already been signed or verified.
Therefore, we strive to complete the document review before notarization to avoid discovering the need for revision after signing.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="8"}
Why choose Kaopu Notary?
Confirm if an Apostille is needed
We do not mechanically process every TECO document with a Secretary of State Apostille; we determine the correct path based on your document type.
End-to-End Notarization, Apostille, and TECO Processing
For documents requiring multiple layers of authentication, from U.S. notarization to state-level Apostille and finally TECO verification, saving clients from having to manage the process themselves.
Check Before You Sign
TECO has specific requirements for document content, identity materials, and jurisdiction. We identify issues before signing to ensure accuracy and avoid having to redo the entire document.
FAQ
What is TECO document authentication?
TECO document authentication is a consular verification process performed by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office for foreign documents meeting their requirements, commonly used for documents to be used in Taiwan for formal purposes.
Is TECO verification the same as an Apostille?
No. An Apostille and TECO document authentication are distinct certification steps. Some TECO documents do not require a prior Apostille, while specific documents do.
Which documents require an Apostille first?
TECO San Francisco's current official list of signed documents states clearly that, for matters involving real estate, inheritance, or seal registration certificates, the Notary Public's signature and seal must first be authenticated with an Apostille by the local Secretary of State, before being submitted to TECO.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="9"}
Does a standard Power of Attorney always need an Apostille?
It cannot be generalized. A standard Power of Attorney should be evaluated based on its specific purpose and TECO's current document category requirements. This page does not set "Apostille" as a fixed first step for all TECO documents.
Must the document be signed in person?
For documents signed by the individual such as a Power of Attorney, Letter of Authorization, or a declaration, it usually requires the signatory to sign in person before a Notary Public who meets jurisdictional requirements.
Can mobile notarization be arranged?
For documents suitable for mobile notarization, we can arrange for a notary to travel to a designated address to complete identity verification and notarization, depending on the location and document requirements.
Can documents from Nevada or Utah be sent to TECO San Francisco?
The consular jurisdiction listed by TECO San Francisco's current official list includes Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. However, it should still be confirmed based on the document's signing location, notarization method, and specific document type.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="10"}
What about documents from Southern California?
TECO document authentication has jurisdictional requirements. If the document does not fall under the San Francisco office's jurisdiction, the correct TECO office should be confirmed first; you cannot submit it there simply because it is close to San Francisco.
Must the original Taiwan passport be mailed to TECO?
For mail-in applications, TECO San Francisco's current official list indicates that a photocopy of the Taiwan passport may be submitted, and the original passport does not need to be mailed; however, the signature page inside the original passport must be signed.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="11"}
Do photocopies of U.S. driver's licenses or Green Cards require notarization?
For mail-in applications, TECO's current official list indicates that photocopies of other identity documents besides the Taiwan passport, such as a U.S. passport, Green Card, or driver's license, may require notarization by a Notary Public.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="12"}
What is the official TECO authentication fee?
TECO San Francisco's current official list of signed documents states the fee is $15 per document to be authenticated.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="13"}
Can TECO document authentication be processed by mail?
Yes. TECO San Francisco currently allows applications for Document Authentication that meet their requirements to be submitted by mail.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="14"}
Can I simply correct the document if I find a mistake after signing?
Not recommended. TECO official guidelines clearly state that authorization documents should not be modified arbitrarily during the submission process. If there is an error, you should typically prepare a new, correct version.:chatgpt-content-reference{index="15"}
Will TECO review the legality and validity of the authorized content?
TECO document authentication does not equate to a final approval of the document content by Taiwan courts, land offices, banks, or other receiving institutions. The content and scope of authorization should still meet the requirements of the actual receiving institution.
Can I send the document to you for a preliminary check?
Yes. We recommend providing the full document, as well as the type of identity documents you hold, the state where the document is signed, and its specific purpose in Taiwan, so we can confirm the required sequence of notarization, Apostille, and TECO authentication.
What happens after I place an order?
After placing an order, we will first verify the document type, TECO San Francisco jurisdiction, identity materials, and whether an Apostille is required. Once the document is correctly prepared, we complete the necessary notarization, state-level authentication, and TECO document authentication, and finally deliver the original documents as agreed in the order.
Submit your documents to us to confirm the correct order for notarization, Apostille, and TECO.
After completing your order, we will review the document type, signing state, identity materials, and the specific purpose in Taiwan. Documents requiring personal signatures will be notarized first; documents requiring an Apostille will have state-level certification completed first; and finally, we will process the document authentication according to TECO San Francisco's requirements.
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