Getting a Ukrainian police certificate through a representative or power of attorney

What an apostille is

An apostille is a stamped official certificate; the FCDO Legalisation Office affixes it to UK public documents. Before attaching it, the office checks the signature or the seal against its own records.

Which documents can be legalised

A document falls within the definition when a UK public official issued it, or when such an official — a notary or solicitor in the UK, for example — has certified it. A power of attorney is one example of a document that can be legalised in this way, as are a contract and a qualification certificate copy certified by a solicitor.

Two routes, both starting online

Both options start with an online application.

• Paper-based apostille: the documents are posted, or handed in person by registered businesses.
• e-Apostille: an electronic certificate for a PDF that a notary or solicitor has signed electronically.

Where the e-Apostille stops

An e-Apostille cannot be obtained for:

• a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate, an adoption certificate, 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.

These document types must go through the paper-based route.

Fees and waiting times

Fees are charged per document:

For paper-based applications, courier costs come on top, and there is no refund if a document cannot be legalised.

Waiting times differ by service:

Before you apply

Before applying, check whether the receiving authority wants paper even where an e-Apostille exists; some do.