An authentication is the placing of the consular seal over the seal of a foreign authority whose seal and signature is on file with the American embassy or consulate. A consular authentication in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing authority. The name of the authentication certification provided for under the Hague Convention Abolishing the Legalization of Foreign Public Documents , a multilateral treaty to which the United States is a party. These services are limited to persons coming within the jurisdiction of the U.S. military base abroad, and are not available for the traveling public. The commission of a notary public is limited to the jurisdiction within the particular state in the U.S. for which the commission was issued.
Some states have very old statutes which provide for such appointments.
However, in the exercise of such powers under state law, commissioners of deeds may violate the sovereignty of a foreign country, because the commissioners would be performing the functions of duly authorized officials of the foreign country. There are certain foreign countries which provide criminal penalties for unauthorized acts of a foreign official, which such a commissioner of deeds would be considered to be, in their territory. The Department of State recommends that State Secretaries of State not appoint commissioners of deeds to perform their functions in a foreign country until it is established, with the Department's help, that the host government would not object. The procedures for becoming a notary public vary from country to country, and may require that the individual be a citizen of the foreign country. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the American embassy or consulate.