Apostille for an ACRO police certificate

An ACRO Police Certificate from England and Wales is among the documents for which no e-Apostille can be issued, so the paper-based apostille is the only route for it.

What an apostille is

An apostille is an official certificate, stamped and attached to UK public documents by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Before attaching it, the office compares the document’s signature or seal with the entries in its own records.

A document can be legalised when a UK public official has issued it, or when such an official has certified it — for example a notary or solicitor based in the UK. Typical examples are a contract, a power of attorney or a qualification certificate copy that a solicitor has certified.

Two kinds of apostille

You apply for either type online. With the paper-based apostille, the documents are sent by post, and a registered business can also bring them in person. The e-Apostille is the electronic version, issued for a PDF that a notary or solicitor in the UK has signed electronically.

Why an ACRO certificate needs the paper route

The e-Apostille is closed to several document types. It cannot be issued for adoption, birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates or other documents issued by the General Register Office, for DBS certificates (England and Wales), for disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland), for fingerprint certificates — or for ACRO police certificates covering England and Wales.

Fees per document

Courier charges apply to the paper-based options. When a document cannot be legalised, no refund is given.

How long each service takes

What to confirm before applying

Ask the authority that will receive the certificate what it accepts, because some receiving authorities want the paper-based version even when the e-Apostille exists. For an ACRO certificate the choice is already settled: only the paper-based service is possible.