How to obtain a PTIN as a foreign national? Passport notarization issues

I've helped several international clients through this process. The IRS is very specific about PTIN requirements for foreign nationals, and yes, you've identified the likely issue - using a US notary instead of one from your home country. For foreign nationals, the IRS requires that your passport be notarized by a notary in your country of citizenship (Italy in your case). Using a US-based online notary doesn't satisfy this requirement, even though it might seem more convenient. Additionally, any non-English text on your passport that contains identifying information should be translated. Regarding the apostille - yes, you'll likely need one. An apostille is essentially an international certification of the notary's authority. Since your documents are being submitted to a US government agency from a foreign country, the apostille helps validate the foreign notary's credentials. For your next submission, I recommend: 1. Get your passport notarized by an Italian notary 2. Obtain an apostille for the notarization 3. Have any non-English portions translated by a certified translator 4. Submit both the notarized passport and the translation

I went through a similar nightmare with my PTIN application last year! I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me tons of time with my foreign documents. They specialize in analyzing tax documents and requirements for international tax preparers. I was confused about the notarization requirements as a Canadian, and their document analysis pinpointed exactly what I needed. They reviewed my passport and other supporting documents before I submitted them to the IRS, which saved me from getting rejected multiple times. The system flagged that I needed a specific type of notarization from my province and identified which parts needed translation. If you're struggling with the PTIN foreign national requirements, definitely check them out. They'll analyze your specific situation and tell you exactly what you need for approval.

I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it actually worked! I was initially skeptical since I'd already been rejected twice for my PTIN application (I'm from Brazil). I uploaded my rejected application and my passport, and the system immediately identified three issues I hadn't caught. First, my Brazilian notary had stamped the wrong page of my passport. Second, I was missing the apostille completely (had no idea I needed one). Third, some Portuguese text needed certified translation that I thought was irrelevant. The specific guidance saved me another rejection. Got my documents properly notarized with an apostille, had the right sections translated, resubmitted everything, and my PTIN was approved last week! Would have saved myself months of frustration if I'd known about this earlier.

If you're having trouble reaching the IRS about your PTIN application, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at the IRS about my foreign national PTIN application issues with zero luck. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After my second rejection (I'm from Australia), I was desperate to speak with someone who could explain exactly what I needed. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes when I had been unable to get through for days on my own. The rep was able to look at my rejection and tell me specifically what documents they needed and how they needed to be notarized. The IRS phone system is basically impossible to navigate, especially for specific issues like foreign PTIN applications. Having someone actually answer and help me was worth every penny.

I'm eating my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical reply, I decided to try it out of desperation - I had been rejected for my PTIN application twice (I'm from South Africa) and couldn't get any clear answers. The service actually worked exactly as advertised. I was connected to an IRS representative in about 30 minutes. The agent looked up my case and specifically told me that the rejection was because my South African notary didn't include their official registration number on the document, and that I needed an apostille specifically from the Department of International Relations, not just any government office. None of this was clear from the rejection letter I received. I resubmitted with the correctly notarized and apostilled documents, and my PTIN was approved last week. I probably would have been rejected a third time without speaking directly to someone who could review my specific case.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - make sure your passport isn't close to expiration! My PTIN application was rejected because my passport was valid but had less than 6 months left. The rejection letter didn't specifically mention this, just said "expired or invalid documentation" which was confusing since my passport was technically still valid. Also, depending on your country, the apostille process can take several weeks. I'm from Germany and it took almost a month to get everything properly processed. Start early!

Has anyone used a consulate or embassy for the notarization? I'm from the Philippines but currently in the US, and traveling back just for notarization seems excessive.

I went through this exact same process as an Italian citizen last year! You're absolutely right about the US notary being the issue - the IRS is very strict about requiring notarization from your country of citizenship. Here's what worked for me: 1. **Italian Notary**: Yes, you need to go to a "notaio" in Italy (not just any public notary). They'll create a "copia conforme" of your passport with their official seal and signature. 2. **Apostille**: After the notarization, you'll need to get an apostille from the Procura della Repubblica or your local Prefecture. This can take 1-2 weeks, so plan ahead. 3. **Translation**: For the Italian text, I used a certified translator who provided a sworn translation ("traduzione giurata"). The translator's certification was sufficient - no separate notarization needed for the translation itself. 4. **Timeline**: The whole process took me about 6 weeks from start to finish, including mailing time. One tip - if you're currently in the US, the Italian consulate might be able to help with the notarization, though you'll still need the apostille from Italy. Call them first to confirm they can do PTIN-specific passport notarization. The second attempt should go smoothly once you have all the proper Italian documentation. Good luck!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with PTIN application challenges as a foreign national from France. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the common issues are: using the wrong type of notary, missing apostilles, and inadequate translations. One thing I'd add - if you're working with a French notaire, make sure they understand this is for US government purposes. I initially went to a regular notaire who treated it like a standard document copy, but the IRS rejected it. The second notaire I visited had experience with international documents and created a much more detailed attestation that included specific language about document authenticity. Also, for anyone else going through this process, I found it helpful to call the IRS PTIN office directly (using Claimyr as mentioned above worked for me too) to confirm exactly what they need before resubmitting. The rejection letters can be vague, but speaking with a representative gave me specific guidance about my situation. The whole process took about 3 months from start to finish, but it was worth it to get it right the second time rather than face another rejection. Hang in there @Nia Thompson - sounds like you're on the right track now!

From my experience processing PTIN applications for foreign nationals, I can confirm that timing varies significantly based on whether your documentation is complete and correct. Once you submit everything properly (with correct foreign notarization, apostille, and translations), the IRS typically processes PTIN applications within 4-6 weeks during normal periods, though it can extend to 8-10 weeks during busy season (January-April). A few additional tips based on what I've seen work consistently: **Documentation Package Best Practices:** - Include a cover letter explicitly stating you're a foreign national applying for PTIN - Organize documents in the order they request: notarized passport first, then apostille, then certified translation - Use paper clips, not staples - makes their processing easier **Common Overlooked Requirements:** - Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond application date - If you have any US visas or entry stamps in your passport, those pages should be included in the notarized copy - Some countries require the apostille to be attached to the original notarized document, not a copy **Pro tip:** After you submit, you can check application status by calling the PTIN line (though as others mentioned, Claimyr makes this much easier). They'll give you a more specific timeline once they start processing your application. The investment in getting everything right upfront definitely pays off - I've seen people get approved in under a month when they submit complete, properly authenticated documentation. Good luck with your resubmission!

I've been following this discussion closely as I'm preparing my own PTIN application as a foreign national from Spain. This thread has been incredibly educational - thank you all for sharing your experiences! Based on everything I've read here, I'm planning to take the following approach: 1. Get my passport notarized by a Spanish notario (not just any notary) 2. Obtain an apostille from the Ministry of Justice 3. Get certified translations for any Spanish text 4. Include a cover letter as @Callum Savage suggested 5. Make sure to include any visa stamp pages in the notarized copy One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who were successful, did you send everything via regular mail or use certified/express mail? Given how much effort goes into getting all the documentation right, I'm wondering if it's worth paying extra for tracking and delivery confirmation. Also, has anyone had experience with getting the apostille remotely? Some Spanish government offices now offer online apostille services, but I want to make sure the IRS accepts digitally-issued apostilles before going that route. The timeline information has been really helpful too. Knowing it's typically 4-6 weeks once submitted correctly helps me plan when to start the process relative to when I need the PTIN active. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes navigating these complex requirements so much easier!