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The information relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only and may not be totally accurate in a particular case. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign attorneys. This circular seeks only to provide information; it is not an opinion on any aspect of U.S., foreign, or international law. The U.S. Department of State does not intend by the contents of this circular to take a position on any aspect of any pending litigation.
Foreign Service officers are generally prohibited by Federal regulations (22 CFR 92.85) from serving process on behalf of private litigants or appointing others to do so, state law notwithstanding.
Service by Foreign Central Authority Pursuant to Multilateral Treaty or Convention
The United States is a party to two multilateral treaties on service of process, the Hague Service Convention and the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol. Procedures for service under these conventions are summarized below. See also our country-specific information pages on judicial assistance.
Complete information on the operation of the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters can be found in the Service Section of the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. This includes the current list of countries that are party to the Convention, each country’s reservations, declarations and notifications relating to the operation of the Convention, the date the Convention entered into force for each country, as well as designated foreign central authorities. See the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Judicial Assistance website or its contractor, ABC Legal, for forms and information about how to submit requests.
The United States is a signatory to the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention for the purposes of legal service of documents only. Thus, only countries party to the Additional Protocol have a treaty relationship with the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Judicial Assistance website or its contractor, ABC Legal for forms and information about how to submit requests.
The Office of International Judicial Assistance (OIJA) serves as the U.S. Central Authority pursuant to the Hague Service Convention and the Inter-American Convention. Since 2003, the Department of Justice has delegated its function as the Central Authority with respect to the ministerial act of service of judicial and extrajudicial documents directed at private individuals and companies in the United States to a private contractor, ABC Legal. Thus, outgoing requests for service pursuant to the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention should be sent directly to ABC Legal in accordance with the treaty. Please note, OIJA plays no role with regard to requests for service from the United States to foreign countries pursuant to the Hague Service Convention. For guidance on how to effect service abroad, please visit OIJA’s website.
ABC Legal
1099 Stewart St., Ste. 700
Seattle, WA 98104
Email: internationalinfo@abclegal.com
Phone: 206-521-2979
Office of International Judicial Assistance
Civil Division, Department of Justice
1100 L St., N.W., Room 8102
Washington, D.C. 20530
Email: OIJA@usdoj.gov
Phone: 202-514-6700
Website: https://www.justice.gov/civil/office-international-judicial-assistance-0
Service by International Registered Mail
Service by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested is an option in many countries in the world. FRCP 4(f)(2)(C) provides that this method of service may be used unless prohibited by the law of the foreign country. U.S. courts have held that formal objections to service by mail made by countries party to a multilateral treaty or convention on service of process at the time of accession or subsequently in accordance with the treaty are honored as a treaty obligation, and litigants should refrain from using such a method of service. Service by registered mail should therefore not be used in the countries party to the Hague Service Convention that objected to the method described in Article 10(a) (postal channels). The Hague Conference on Private International Law maintains information on the applicability of Article 10(a) on its website.
Personal Service by Agent
If personal service is permitted in a particular country, the most expeditious method may be to retain the services of a foreign attorney or process server. FRCP 4(f)(2)(C) provides for personal service unless prohibited by the laws of the foreign country. The attorney (or agent) may execute an affidavit of service at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or before a local foreign notary. Lists of foreign attorneys are available from U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. See also our web page, "Retaining a Foreign Attorney." It should be noted, however, that this method of service may not be considered valid under the laws of the foreign country. If eventual enforcement of a U.S. judgment in the foreign country is foreseen, this method may be subject to challenge. It may be prudent to consult foreign counsel early in the process to determine what methods of service are available and considered effective under the domestic law of the country where the service is executed. U.S. process servers and other agents may not be authorized by the laws of the foreign country to effect service abroad, and such action could result in their arrest and/or deportation.
Service by Letters Rogatory
Letters rogatory are requests from a court in the United States to a court in a foreign country seeking international judicial assistance. They are often employed to obtain evidence abroad, but may also be utilized in effecting service of process, particularly in those countries that prohibit other methods of service. In some countries service by letters rogatory is the only recognized method of service. Service of a judicial summons in criminal matters may also be effected pursuant to letters rogatory. Service of process by judicial authorities in the receiving State pursuant to letters rogatory from a court in the sending State is based on the principle of comity. Procedural requirements vary from country to country. See our web page guidance on "Preparation of Letters Rogatory." See also our country-specific flyers for information on particular countries. Letters rogatory are a time consuming, cumbersome process and need not be utilized unless there are no other options available. If the laws of the foreign country permit other methods of service, the use of letters rogatory is not recommended given the routine time delays of up to a year or more in execution of the requests.
Service by Publication
Service by publication may also be a viable option, however, this may not be a valid method of service under the laws of the foreign country. If eventual enforcement of a U.S. judgment in a foreign country is foreseen, it may be prudent to consult foreign counsel or U.S. foreign legal consultants abroad before proceeding with such a method of service.
Waiver of Service
FRCP 4(d). Waiver of service may also be a viable option, however, this may not be a valid method of service under the laws of the foreign country. If eventual enforcement of a U.S. judgment in a foreign country is foreseen, it may be prudent to consult foreign counsel or U.S. foreign legal consultants abroad before proceeding with such a method of service. Waivers of service may be executed before a U.S. consular official abroad in the form of an acknowledgment or affidavit.
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
Service of process on foreign states and foreign state-owned agencies and instrumentalities is governed by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). If all other methods of service provided for by the FSIA have failed, U.S. Embassies can serve a summons, complaint and notice of suit or a default judgment on a foreign government (28 U.S.C. 1608 (a)(4); 22 C.F.R. 93) on instructions from the Department of State. Similarly, letters rogatory requesting service of process on an agency or instrumentality of a foreign government pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1608(b)(3)(A) may be transmitted through the Department of State. See Sec. 1608 of the Act for the specific hierarchical service provisions. See also our web page feature about service under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and FSIA checklist.
