Lost Ukrainian police certificate: how to order a replacement from the UK

An apostille is an official certificate in the form of a stamp that the FCDO Legalisation Office fixes to UK public documents. Before adding it, the office compares the signature or seal a document carries against its own records.

When a document can be legalised

Legalisation applies where a UK public official has issued the document, or where a notary or solicitor in the UK has certified it. Examples given on gov.uk are a contract, a power of attorney and a qualification certificate copy.

Two types, applied for online

You apply online for either of the two types.

• Paper-based: the documents go by post, although registered businesses may also bring them in person.
• e-Apostille: a PDF that carries the electronic signature of a notary or solicitor in the UK.

Before you choose, ask the authority that will receive the document which format it accepts, because some of them want a paper-based apostille even where an e-Apostille exists.

What the e-Apostille does not cover

Some documents are excluded from the electronic route:

• certificates of birth, marriage, death, civil partnership or adoption, plus other papers issued by the General Register Office
• ACRO police certificates (England and Wales)
• DBS certificates (England and Wales)
• disclosure certificates (Scotland and Northern Ireland)
• fingerprint certificates

A police certificate therefore has to follow the paper-based route.

Fees per document

Courier or postage charges come with the paper-based options, and a document that cannot be legalised is not refunded.

How long each type takes