Apostille for a UK degree certificate

What an apostille is

An apostille is a stamped official certificate. The Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) attaches it to UK public documents, and only after checking the signature or seal against the records it holds.

How degree certificates fit in

A UK document can be legalised when a UK public official issued it or when such an official certified it — a UK solicitor or notary, for example. The examples given include a contract, a power of attorney and a qualification certificate copy — the type of document a degree certificate is. Certification happens before the apostille stage.

Two application routes

Both routes are applied for online.

• Paper-based apostille: the document travels by post, and registered businesses can also hand it in personally.
• e-Apostille: the electronic variant, attached to a PDF that a UK solicitor or notary has signed with an electronic signature.

What the e-Apostille does not cover

The electronic route is closed to adoption, birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates, along with any other General Register Office document. It is equally unavailable for ACRO police certificates (England and Wales), DBS certificates (England and Wales), disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland) and fingerprint certificates. A degree certificate is not among them.

Fees

The charge per document:

Courier charges apply to the paper-based routes, and there is no refund when a document cannot be legalised.

How long each route takes

Paper or electronic?

Before applying, check whether the receiving authority wants paper; some do even when an electronic apostille exists.