ACRO Police Certificate

What an apostille is

An apostille is a stamped official certificate. The Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) checks the signature or seal of a UK public document against the records it holds, and if they match, the apostille is attached.

A UK public document is legalised when a UK public official issued it or when such an official, for example a UK notary or a UK solicitor, has certified it. Examples are a contract, a power of attorney, or a qualification certificate where a solicitor has certified the copy.

Two types of apostille

Applications for both types are made online.

• The paper-based apostille: you post your documents, and registered businesses can also submit them in person.
• The e-Apostille: a PDF signed electronically by a UK solicitor or notary.

Why an ACRO police certificate needs the paper route

An e-Apostille is not available for General Register Office documents, such as certificates of adoption, birth, death, marriage and civil partnership. The same restriction covers ACRO police certificates from England and Wales, DBS certificates from England and Wales, disclosure certificates from Scotland and Northern Ireland, and fingerprint certificates. For an ACRO police certificate, the paper-based apostille is therefore the option that remains.

What the apostille costs

Courier charges apply to paper-based apostilles. If a document turns out to be impossible to legalise, there is no refund.

How long the apostille takes

Check the requirements first

Before applying, check what the receiving authority expects: some want paper even when the electronic version exists for other types of documents. An ACRO police certificate from England and Wales always goes through the paper-based process, so the postal application and the courier or postage time are what you plan around.