UK documents for the UAE: apostille or embassy attestation

If a UK public document is to be accepted abroad, it first needs to be legalised. This is done by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Staff there compare the signature or seal on the document with the records they hold, and once it matches, a stamped official certificate — the apostille — is attached to the document.

Which documents can be legalised

A document qualifies when a UK public official issued it, or when such an official — for example a notary or a solicitor — has certified it. The gov.uk guidance gives a power of attorney, a contract, and a copy of a qualification certificate as examples.

Paper-based apostille and e-Apostille

Both routes are applied for online.

• Paper-based: the document is sent by post, or handed in in person by registered businesses.
• e-Apostille: an electronic certificate for a PDF that a UK notary or solicitor has signed electronically.

Not every document is eligible for the electronic route. No e-Apostille can be issued for birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates or other General Register Office documents, nor for ACRO police certificates (England and Wales), DBS certificates (England and Wales), disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland) or fingerprint certificates. These can only go through the paper-based process.

Before choosing the electronic option, ask the authority that will receive the document whether it accepts it: some want the paper-based version even where an e-Apostille exists.

Fees per document

Courier charges apply to paper-based applications, and there is no refund if a document cannot be legalised.

How long each service takes

Apostilles are issued only by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Requirements of the country where the document will be used should always be checked with that country’s receiving authority.