Apostille for a certified passport copy

An apostille is a stamped official certificate which the FCDO Legalisation Office adds to UK public documents after checking the signature or seal against their records. A document counts as legalised when a public official in the UK either issued it or certified it.

When legalisation applies

The rule for legalisation covers documents that a UK public official issued, and documents certified by an official of that kind — a UK notary or a solicitor, for example. Documents named as examples include powers of attorney, contractual papers and copies of qualification certificates.

Two application formats

Filings for either format are submitted online.

• Paper-based: the document is sent through the post, and registered businesses may additionally bring it to the office in person.
• e-Apostille: the electronic format, which applies to a PDF signed electronically by a notary or solicitor based in the UK.

Some documents qualify for the electronic format and some do not.

What an e-Apostille cannot be issued for

The electronic format is not available for these documents:

• fingerprint certificates;
• disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland);
• ACRO police certificates (England and Wales);
• certificates of birth, death, marriage or civil partnership, along with adoption certificates and all other documents issued by the General Register Office;
• DBS certificates (England and Wales).

A document from this list can only be dealt with in the paper format.

Fees

The charges per document are:

Courier charges therefore arise on paper-based applications. Where a document cannot be legalised, the fee is not returned.

Times

Choosing between the formats

Check first whether the authority receiving the document wants paper even where an e-Apostille is available, because some of them do.