If you need to use your UK degree certificate abroad, you may be asked to provide an apostille. This is common for overseas employment, university admission, professional registration, visa applications, residency, teaching roles and work in regulated sectors.

Many people do not want to send their original degree certificate for legalisation because it may be difficult to replace if it is lost or damaged. In many cases, a certified copy of a UK degree certificate can be apostilled instead.

However, the copy must be certified correctly before it can be legalised. An ordinary photocopy or scan of your degree certificate is not enough.

This guide explains when you can apostille a copy of a UK degree certificate, who can certify it, when the original may still be needed and how to prepare the document for overseas use.

What does it mean to apostille a copy of a degree certificate?

Apostilling a copy of a degree certificate means that a certified copy, rather than the original degree certificate, is legalised for use abroad.

The apostille is not confirming your academic result. It confirms the recognised signature, seal or stamp on the certified copy.

The UK Legalisation Office checks whether the signature, stamp or seal on a document is genuine before attaching an apostille. This is the official legalisation process for UK documents used overseas.

In practice, this often means:

1. a copy of your degree certificate is made
2. a solicitor or notary certifies the copy
3. the FCDO attaches an apostille to the solicitor’s or notary’s certification
4. the certified and apostilled copy can be submitted overseas

Can a copy of a UK degree certificate be apostilled?

Yes, a copy of a UK degree certificate can often be apostilled if it is certified correctly first.

A plain photocopy, scan or photo of the degree certificate cannot usually be apostilled on its own. The copy normally needs to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary public. The apostille is then attached to the certifier’s signature.

This is a common route when you need to use your degree abroad but want to keep the original certificate safe.

Before choosing this route, check whether the receiving authority accepts a certified copy. Some employers, universities, embassies or professional bodies may insist on the original degree certificate.

Why use a certified copy instead of the original?

Using a certified copy can be helpful because your original degree certificate is an important document and may not be easy to replace.

A certified copy may be safer if:

• you need to send the document overseas
• the receiving authority does not need the original
• you are applying to several institutions
• the document will pass through multiple offices
• you are worried about loss or damage
• the original certificate is old or fragile
• you need to keep the original for another application

For many overseas processes, an apostilled certified copy is acceptable. However, this should always be confirmed before submission.

When might you need a degree certificate apostille?

You may need an apostille on a UK degree certificate or certified copy for:

• overseas employment
• work visa applications
• residency applications
• university admission abroad
• postgraduate study
• teaching positions
• healthcare jobs
• engineering or technical roles
• professional registration
• qualification recognition
• immigration procedures
• declaration of value applications
• embassy or consular processes

Foreign authorities often ask for academic documents to be legalised because they cannot easily verify UK qualifications themselves.

Who can certify a copy of a UK degree certificate?

A copy of a UK degree certificate is usually certified by a UK solicitor or notary public.

The certifier confirms that the copy is a true copy of the original document. The certification should include the correct wording, the certifier’s signature, name, professional details, date and stamp where appropriate.

The FCDO can then check the solicitor’s or notary’s signature and attach the apostille.

The exact wording matters. If the certification is unclear or incomplete, the apostille application may be delayed or rejected.

Do you need the original degree certificate to certify a copy?

Usually, yes. A solicitor or notary normally needs to see the original degree certificate before certifying a copy.

This is because they must confirm that the copy matches the original. If you only have a scan, some providers may need to verify the document with the university before certification can be completed.

University verification may be required if:

• the original certificate is not available
• only a scanned copy is provided
• the certificate is difficult to read
• the qualification needs to be independently confirmed
• the receiving authority asks for verification
• there is any concern about the document’s authenticity

If the original has been lost, you may need to request a replacement certificate or official statement from the awarding university.

Is a solicitor or notary better for degree certificate certification?

This depends on the destination country and the receiving authority.

For many apostille-only cases, solicitor certification may be enough. A solicitor-certified copy can often be submitted to the FCDO for apostille.

A notary may be better or required if:

• the destination country asks for notarisation
• the document is for a power of attorney or legal process
• the document will need embassy attestation
• the receiving authority specifically requests a notarial certificate
• the country has stricter document formalities
• the document is part of a professional or immigration process

Before certifying the copy, check whether the overseas authority has asked for a “certified copy”, “notarised copy”, “legalised copy” or “apostilled copy”. These terms can lead to different routes.

Can the original UK degree certificate be apostilled instead?

Yes, in some cases the original degree certificate can be apostilled.

However, many academic certificates do not have a signature, stamp or seal that the FCDO can verify directly. If the FCDO cannot verify the original document, the degree may still need solicitor or notary certification before apostille.

Some universities may issue replacement certificates, certified copies, transcripts or letters of verification. These may also need apostille depending on the overseas requirements.

If the original certificate is valuable, fragile or difficult to replace, an apostilled certified copy may be the safer route.

Can transcripts or diploma supplements be apostilled?

Yes, transcripts and diploma supplements can often be apostilled, but they may need certification first.

You may be asked for:

• degree certificate
• academic transcript
• diploma supplement
• letter of attendance
• confirmation of award
• professional qualification certificate
• PGCE certificate
• teaching qualification
• university reference letter

Each document should be checked separately. A university-issued document with a verifiable signature may follow a different route from a scan, copy or downloaded PDF.

Do digital degree documents need a different process?

Digital degree documents may need a different legalisation route.

If the document is digitally issued or digitally certified, it may be suitable for an e-Apostille. GOV.UK currently lists e-Apostille processing as up to 2 working days, while standard paper legalisation is usually up to 15 working days plus courier or postage time.

However, an e-Apostille is only suitable if the receiving authority accepts electronic documents. Some universities, embassies, employers and professional bodies still require a physical document with a paper apostille.

If in doubt, check whether the recipient accepts:

• digital documents
• e-Apostilles
• certified PDFs
• printed copies
• paper apostilles
• notarised copies

How to apostille a certified copy of a UK degree

The process usually works as follows.

1. check the receiving authority’s requirements

Before certifying the copy, ask whether they accept a certified copy or require the original degree certificate.

Also check whether they need solicitor certification, notarisation, apostille, embassy attestation or translation.

2. prepare a clear copy of the degree certificate

The copy should be complete, clear and match the original. It should show the qualification title, name, awarding institution, date of award and any visible stamps or signatures.

3. arrange solicitor or notary certification

A solicitor or notary checks the original certificate and certifies the copy. The certification must be suitable for FCDO apostille.

4. submit the certified copy for apostille

The certified copy is submitted to the FCDO Legalisation Office. The apostille is attached to the recognised signature or seal on the certification.

5. arrange embassy attestation if needed

If the destination country does not accept apostille alone, the document may also need embassy or consular legalisation.

6. arrange translation if required

If the document is being used in a non-English-speaking country, a certified translation may also be needed.

When is embassy attestation needed?

Embassy attestation may be required if the document is being used in a country that does not accept apostille alone.

For example, some countries may require:

1. solicitor or notary certification
2. FCDO apostille
3. embassy or consular attestation
4. local ministry stamping in the destination country
5. certified translation, if required

GOV.UK advises checking with the person asking for your document whether it needs to be legalised, and explains that some countries may require embassy stamping after the Legalisation Office has apostilled the document.

Do degree certificates need translation?

A certified translation may be required if the document is being used in a country where English is not accepted.

The correct order depends on the destination country. Some authorities want the degree certificate apostilled first and then translated. Others may ask for the translation itself to be certified, notarised or legalised.

Before arranging translation, check whether the authority needs:

• the apostilled certified copy
• the original degree certificate
• a certified translation
• a sworn translation
• an apostilled translation
• embassy attestation
• a translation completed in the destination country

Common mistakes to avoid

Common mistakes include:

• sending an ordinary photocopy without certification
• certifying a copy without showing the original
• using incorrect solicitor certification wording
• assuming a copy will be accepted without checking
• apostilling the wrong academic document
• using a damaged or unclear degree certificate
• forgetting transcripts or diploma supplements where required
• choosing solicitor certification when notarisation is required
• choosing e-Apostille when a paper apostille is needed
• translating the document in the wrong order
• forgetting embassy attestation for non-Hague countries

These mistakes can delay your application or cause the overseas authority to reject the document.

How we can help

We can help prepare your UK degree certificate for overseas use.

Our service can include checking whether a certified copy is suitable, arranging solicitor or notary certification, submitting the document for FCDO apostille, advising whether a paper apostille or e-Apostille is better, arranging embassy attestation where required and helping with certified translation.

If you are unsure whether to apostille the original certificate or a certified copy, send us the instructions from the overseas authority. We can confirm the safest route before you send your document.