FCDO Legalisation Office: how UK apostilles are issued

What an apostille is

An apostille is a stamped official certificate that the FCDO Legalisation Office adds to a UK public document. Before attaching it, the office checks the signature or seal on the document against the records it keeps. The certificate is what lets a British document be used overseas.

Which documents can be legalised

A document is legalised when a UK public official issued it, or when such an official — for example a notary or a solicitor in the UK — has certified it. Documents named on GOV.UK as examples are a power of attorney, some form of contract, and a copy of a certificate of qualification.

Two routes, one online process

Applications for either type of apostille are made online.

• Paper-based apostille — the certificate is attached to the physical document. You send it by post, or bring it in person if you are a registered business.
• e-Apostille — an electronic certificate for a PDF that a notary or solicitor has signed electronically.

Before choosing the electronic route, find out what the authority receiving the document expects, because some of them want a paper-based version even where an e-Apostille exists.

Documents that cannot get an e-Apostille

No e-Apostille can be issued for:

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

For documents on this list, the paper-based service applies.

Fees per document

Courier charges attach to the paper-based services. If a document turns out to be one that cannot be legalised, there is no refund.

How long each service takes