Step 1: Draft the Letter of Authority (LOA)

  • Ensure that the LOA is properly drafted, clearly stating the authority being granted, the parties involved, and any relevant terms.
  • The document should be signed by an authorized representative of the company.
  • If required, the LOA should be translated into Arabic by a certified translator before proceeding to the next steps.

 

Step 2: Notarisation by a Notary Public 

  • Take the LOA to a Notary Public in your country.
  • The notary will verify the authenticity of signatures and the content of the document.
  • The notarisation process may include:
    • Verifying identities (passport, national ID, proof of address).
    • Confirming the document’s legitimacy.
    • Issuing a notarial certificate if required.

Note:

Duration: Typically, appointments last between 15 to 30 minutes. ​

Considerations: Depending on the document’s complexity, additional time may be needed for drafting or verification before the appointment.

 

Step 3: Certification by the Foreign Affairs Ministry 

  • Once notarized, submit the LOA to your country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (or equivalent department).
  • This step ensures that the notary public is officially recognized and the document is valid for international use.
  • The ministry will add an official stamp or certification to the document.

Note 1:

Standard Service – Duration: Approximately 4 working days. ​

Premium Service – Duration: Same-day processing is available for business users, with documents ready within 2-3 hours if received by 11:30 AM.

Note 2: The FCDO’s Premium Service is limited to specific urgent documents and requires prior approval.

 

Step 4: Legalisation by the Libyan Embassy or Consulate

  • Take the certified LOA to the Libyan Embassy or Consulate in your country for legalisation.
  • The embassy will verify the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s certification and apply their official attestation or stamp.
  • Some embassies may require an Arabic translation, so confirm beforehand.

Note 1

Duration: Processing times can vary with some embassies reporting a timeframe of 10-15 days while others reporting 1 – 2 working weeks. ​

It’s advisable to contact the Libyan Embassy directly for the most accurate processing times. ​

 

Note 2 

It is worth engaging with your Libyan partner to understand if they can, through connections or relationships, speed up the process at the embassy or consulate in the host country

 

Step 5: Final Checks and Submission in Libya 

  • Ensure that all stamps and certifications are present.
  • If required, have the Arabic translation attached and certified.
  • Submit the fully legalised LOA to the relevant Libyan authorities for official use.

If the process seems complex, you can hire a professional document legalisation service to handle the steps efficiently.

 

Additional Considerations 

Translation:

    • If the LOA is in English, it may need official translation into Arabic before submission to Libyan authorities.

Processing Times & Fees:

      • Costs and timelines depend on each step. Contact the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Libyan Embassy for details.

Using Legalization Services:

    • Agencies can provide full legalization support, including notarisation, embassy attestation, and translations.

 

Conclusion

By following these steps, your Letter of Authority (LOA) will be legally recognized in Libya.

Start early to account for processing times and embassy requirements.