Document legalisation
Papers that are accepted abroad, first time
Apostilles, certification and embassy legalisation for UK documents used overseas, for study, marriage, work, property and business.
The journey
How a UK document becomes valid overseas
Every stamp in the chain confirms the one before it. Miss a step, and the document comes back.
You
Your document
A certificate, degree, power of attorney, company paper, or similar.
Solicitor or notary
Certified copy or signature
Many documents must first be certified or signed by a UK solicitor or notary before the FCDO will accept them.
UK government
FCDO apostille
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirms the signature or seal is genuine, on paper or as an e-Apostille.
Destination country
Accepted abroad
Countries in the Apostille Convention accept the apostille directly. No further step is usually needed.
What we do
Every stage of the chain, handled
Apostille
We prepare and submit documents to the FCDO for an apostille, by post or as an e-Apostille where eligible.
Solicitor certification
Certified copies and signature certification, so documents meet the FCDO's requirements.
Notarisation
Arranged through a notary public where the receiving country or organisation requires it.
Embassy legalisation
Consular legalisation for countries outside the Apostille Convention.
Certified translation
Translations certified and, where needed, legalised alongside the original.
Corporate documents
Certificates of incorporation, board resolutions, powers of attorney and commercial papers.
Common requests
Documents we legalise every week
Requirements differ by document and by destination. We check both before anything is sent, so it is right the first time.
- Birth, marriage and death certificates
- Degree certificates and transcripts
- Powers of attorney and statutory declarations
- ACRO police certificates
- Company documents from Companies House
- Court orders and divorce documents
FAQs
Apostilles, explained
Still unsure? A ten-minute call usually settles it.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirming that a signature, seal or stamp on a UK public document is genuine. Countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention accept it without further legalisation.
How long does it take?
The FCDO's standard postal service usually takes up to 15 working days, plus postage time, and the current timescale is shown when you apply. The e-Apostille service, for eligible documents signed electronically by a UK solicitor or notary, is usually faster, at up to 2 working days. Faster paper services are restricted to registered businesses.
What is an e-Apostille?
A digital apostille attached to a PDF that a UK solicitor or notary has signed electronically. It can be verified online by the recipient. Not every document or country accepts one, and some documents, including General Register Office certificates and DBS certificates, cannot use the service. We will check before we start.
Do I need a solicitor to get an apostille?
Not always. Some documents can go straight to the FCDO. Others, such as copies, translations and many private documents, must first be certified or signed by a solicitor or notary. We tell you which applies to your document so it is not rejected.
What if the country isn't part of the Apostille Convention?
The document usually needs an apostille first and then legalisation by that country's embassy or consulate in the UK. Each embassy has its own requirements and timescales, which we confirm for you.