Certified translation of a Ukrainian police certificate in the UK

Under the gov.uk description, the FCDO Legalisation Office checks a UK public document’s signature or seal against its records and, if they match, attaches a stamped official certificate — the apostille. Legalisation applies where a UK public official issued the document, or where a notary or solicitor in the UK has certified it. The examples gov.uk gives are a contract, a power of attorney, and certified copies of qualification certificates.

The two types

Applications for both types are made online. A paper-based apostille is applied for online, with documents going by post, or brought in person by registered businesses. An e-Apostille is the electronic alternative: a PDF that a notary or solicitor in the UK has signed electronically. Before choosing, check whether the receiving authority wants paper even if an e-Apostille exists; gov.uk notes that some do.

Police certificates and other documents with no e-Apostille

No e-Apostille is available for:

• birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates, adoption certificates, and other General Register Office documents;
• ACRO police certificates (England and Wales);
• DBS certificates (England and Wales);
• disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland);
• fingerprint certificates.

For these documents, the paper-based apostille is the option that remains.

Fees and processing times