Health and care worker sponsor licence: police certificate rules

An apostille is an official certificate stamped onto UK public documents by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Before attaching it, the office compares the signature or seal with its own records.

What legalisation covers

Legalisation applies to a document that a UK public official issued, or that such an official certified — a notary or a solicitor can be that certifier. Gov.uk names typical examples: a power of attorney or a contract, for instance, or a qualification certificate copied and certified by a solicitor.

Two routes, one online application

Both types start with an online application.

• Paper-based apostille: the documents go by post, though a registered business can bring them in person.
• e-Apostille: an electronic certificate for a PDF that a notary or solicitor has signed electronically in the UK.

Police certificates without an e-Apostille

The e-Apostille does not cover every document type. Gov.uk rules it out for certificates of birth, death, marriage, adoption or civil partnership, together with other General Register Office documents, and for:

• ACRO police certificates (England and Wales);
• DBS certificates (England and Wales);
• disclosure certificates from Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• fingerprint certificates.

Any document on this list goes through the paper-based route instead.

Fees for each document

Charges per document:

Courier charges apply to paper-based applications, and a document that cannot be legalised earns no refund.

How long each route takes

What the receiving authority accepts

Some authorities want a paper apostille even where an e-Apostille exists, so check the requirement before you apply.