Working abroad from the UK often involves more paperwork than people expect. A job offer may be the first step, but before you can start work, an employer, visa office, professional regulator, school, hospital, recruitment agency or immigration authority may ask for UK documents.
These documents may include a police certificate, DBS check, degree certificate, academic transcript, employment reference, medical certificate, passport copy, proof of address or professional licence. Some may also need apostille legalisation, certified translation or embassy attestation before they can be accepted overseas.
The UK Legalisation Office checks whether the signature, stamp or seal on a UK document is genuine. If the signature, stamp or seal matches its records, it legalises the document by attaching an apostille. This is often required when UK documents are submitted abroad.
This guide explains which UK documents may be needed for working abroad, when apostille may be required and how to avoid delays before your overseas start date.
Why overseas employers ask for UK documents
Overseas employers and authorities may ask for UK documents to confirm your identity, qualifications, work history, criminal record status, health, professional standing or right to work in their country.
Documents may be needed for:
- work visa applications
- employment onboarding
- skilled worker permits
- teaching jobs
- healthcare roles
- childcare or safeguarding roles
- professional registration
- licensing or regulatory approval
- international school checks
- relocation packages
- foreign bank accounts
- tax registration
- accommodation or housing support
The exact document list depends on the country, employer, profession and visa category.
Passport and certified passport copy
Your passport is the main identity document for overseas employment.
You may need it for:
- visa applications
- work permit applications
- employer onboarding
- professional registration
- relocation services
- bank accounts
- accommodation contracts
- medical checks
- tax registration
Some employers or foreign authorities may ask for a certified passport copy. A simple scan or photocopy may not be enough.
A solicitor or notary may need to certify the copy as a true copy of the original passport. GOV.UK explains that certifying a document means getting it signed and dated by a professional person, such as a solicitor, as a true copy of the original.
If the certified passport copy will be used abroad, it may also need apostille.
Police certificate for working abroad
A police certificate or criminal record check is one of the most common documents requested for overseas work.
Depending on the country and role, you may need:
- ACRO police certificate
- basic DBS check
- standard DBS check
- enhanced DBS check
- Disclosure Scotland certificate
- AccessNI certificate
ACRO says its police certificate can be used for visas, immigration, employment or travel abroad.
If the employer or visa office asks for a “police clearance certificate”, “criminal record certificate” or “certificate of good conduct”, check which UK document they accept before applying.
ACRO vs DBS for overseas work
ACRO and DBS are different documents.
An ACRO police certificate is commonly used for overseas visas, immigration, residency and employment checks.
A DBS certificate is commonly used for employment and safeguarding checks in England and Wales. For certain roles, such as work with children or healthcare, an employer may request a more detailed DBS check. GOV.UK explains that standard and enhanced DBS checks cannot be requested by applicants themselves and must be requested through the employer or organisation asking for the check.
For overseas work, you may need both:
- ACRO for the visa or immigration authority
- DBS for the employer or safeguarding requirement
Always check the wording carefully.
Degree certificate
A degree certificate is often required for skilled jobs abroad.
It may be requested for:
- work visas
- teaching roles
- healthcare roles
- engineering roles
- professional licensing
- university or research posts
- government jobs abroad
- regulated professions
- employer qualification checks
A UK degree certificate may need apostille before it is accepted overseas. Some authorities require the original certificate. Others accept a solicitor-certified or notary-certified copy.
If you only have a digital certificate or PDF, check whether the receiving authority accepts it before arranging apostille.
Academic transcript
An academic transcript may be requested alongside your degree certificate.
It may show:
- course title
- modules studied
- grades
- dates of study
- awarding institution
- qualification level
- credits or academic results
Transcripts are often needed for professional registration, teaching, healthcare, engineering, postgraduate study or qualification equivalency.
If the transcript is a copy, download or PDF, it may need solicitor or notary certification before apostille.
Professional qualification certificates
Some jobs abroad require evidence of professional training or licensing.
This may include:
- teaching qualification
- medical or nursing registration
- engineering licence
- accountancy qualification
- legal qualification
- trade certificate
- vocational certificate
- safeguarding certificate
- first aid certificate
- professional membership letter
Professional bodies may issue letters or certificates confirming your status. These documents may need apostille, certification or translation before overseas use.
Employment reference letters
Overseas employers often ask for reference letters to confirm previous work experience.
A strong employment reference should usually include:
- employer letterhead
- your full name
- job title
- employment dates
- role responsibilities
- salary, if required
- contract type
- manager or HR signatory
- date of issue
- employer contact details
If the letter is being used for a visa, professional licence or government process, it may need solicitor or notary certification before apostille because the FCDO may not be able to verify the employer’s signature directly.
Employment confirmation letter
An employment confirmation letter is different from a detailed reference.
It may simply confirm:
- your job title
- employment dates
- current or previous employment status
- salary
- work location
- contract type
- whether the role was full-time or part-time
This can be useful for visa applications, tax registration, professional registration or overseas bank checks.
If the document needs apostille, make sure the letter is on official letterhead and signed by an authorised person. Private employer letters may still need solicitor or notary certification.
Medical certificate
Some overseas jobs require a medical certificate or health clearance.
This may apply to:
- teaching jobs
- healthcare roles
- cruise ship jobs
- aviation roles
- childcare roles
- offshore work
- government roles
- long-term work visas
- work in countries with health screening rules
A medical document may need to be signed by a doctor or clinic, then certified or apostilled for overseas use.
Medical documents can contain sensitive information, so the letter should only include what the employer or authority has requested.
Proof of address
Proof of address may be requested for overseas employment, visa applications, bank accounts, accommodation, tax registration or background checks.
Common UK proof of address documents include:
- bank statement
- utility bill
- council tax bill
- HMRC letter
- DWP letter
- mortgage statement
- tenancy agreement
- driving licence, where accepted
- employer letter
- university letter
Proof of address documents are often private or commercial documents, so they may need solicitor certification before apostille.
Screenshots are usually weaker than full PDF statements or official letters.
Bank statements and payslips
Some overseas work applications require proof of income or financial stability.
You may need:
- bank statements
- payslips
- employment contract
- salary letter
- P60
- P45
- tax return
- accountant letter
- savings statement
These may be needed for work visas, relocation support, accommodation, family sponsorship or residency applications.
If these documents need legalisation, they usually require solicitor or notary certification before apostille.
Teaching documents for working abroad
Teachers applying for jobs abroad may be asked for a wide range of documents.
These may include:
- degree certificate
- PGCE or teaching qualification
- QTS evidence
- academic transcript
- DBS certificate
- ACRO police certificate
- employment references
- safeguarding certificates
- passport copy
- medical certificate
- previous school letters
International schools may have strict document rules. Some may ask for apostille on degree certificates, DBS certificates and teaching qualifications before confirming employment.
Healthcare documents for working abroad
Healthcare professionals may need more detailed evidence before working overseas.
This may include:
- degree or diploma
- professional registration certificate
- good standing certificate
- employment references
- training certificates
- medical licence
- DBS or police certificate
- passport copy
- vaccination records
- medical fitness certificate
Some healthcare regulators require documents to be apostilled and translated before they will recognise qualifications or issue a licence.
Documents for childcare or nanny roles abroad
Childcare roles often require criminal record and safeguarding checks.
You may need:
- enhanced DBS certificate
- ACRO police certificate
- childcare qualification
- first aid certificate
- safeguarding certificate
- employment references
- passport copy
- proof of address
- medical certificate
- travel consent or family documents, where relevant
If the role is overseas, the employer or agency may ask for apostille on the DBS certificate, ACRO certificate or qualifications.
Documents for remote work abroad
If you are moving abroad while working remotely for a UK employer, you may need documents for digital nomad visas, tax registration or residency.
This may include:
- employment confirmation letter
- remote work letter
- salary confirmation
- employment contract
- bank statements
- tax documents
- proof of address
- passport copy
- police certificate
- health insurance evidence
Some digital nomad or remote work visas require documents to be apostilled and translated before submission.
Does a work document need apostille?
A work-related UK document may need apostille if it is being submitted to an overseas authority, employer, regulator or visa office that requires legalised documents.
Common documents that may need apostille include:
- degree certificates
- academic transcripts
- police certificates
- DBS certificates
- professional qualification certificates
- employment letters
- reference letters
- medical certificates
- passport copies
- proof of address
- company documents
- powers of attorney
The apostille confirms the recognised UK signature, stamp or seal. It does not confirm that the foreign employer will accept the document for every purpose.
Documents that can often be apostilled directly
Some official UK documents may be suitable for direct apostille if they contain a verifiable signature, stamp or seal.
These may include:
- ACRO police certificates
- some official academic documents
- some government-issued certificates
- some court documents
- Companies House certified documents
- some professional body certificates
The format matters. A copy, printout or PDF may not be suitable for direct apostille.
Documents that may need certification first
Many employment-related documents need solicitor or notary certification before apostille.
This may apply to:
- passport copies
- proof of address
- bank statements
- payslips
- employment letters
- reference letters
- medical letters
- degree certificate copies
- academic transcript copies
- DBS certificates, in some cases
- downloaded PDFs
- private documents
The apostille is then usually attached to the solicitor’s or notary’s certification.
Certified copies for overseas work
A certified copy can be useful if you do not want to send an original document abroad.
Certified copies may be requested for:
- passport
- degree certificate
- academic transcript
- professional certificate
- proof of address
- employment contract
- professional licence
- training certificate
The certifier usually needs to see the original document. If the certified copy needs apostille, the certification must be suitable for FCDO legalisation.
Translation requirements
If the country does not accept English documents, certified or sworn translation may be required.
This may apply to:
- police certificates
- degree certificates
- transcripts
- employment letters
- references
- medical certificates
- professional licences
- passport copies
- proof of address
The correct order matters. In many cases, the UK document should be apostilled first and then translated so the apostille is included in the translation.
GOV.UK explains that when certifying a translation, the translator should confirm in writing that it is a true and accurate translation of the original, include the date, and provide their full name and contact details.
Embassy legalisation after apostille
For many countries, FCDO apostille is enough.
For other countries, the document may need embassy or consular legalisation after the apostille. This is common where the destination country does not accept apostille alone, or where the employer, ministry or regulator requires embassy attestation.
The process may be:
- prepare the UK document
- arrange solicitor or notary certification, if required
- obtain FCDO apostille
- arrange embassy or consular legalisation
- arrange certified translation
- submit to the employer, visa office or regulator
Embassy legalisation usually requires paper documents, so e-Apostille may not be suitable.
Paper apostille or e-Apostille for work documents
Some work documents may be suitable for e-Apostille if they are digitally signed or certified and the receiving authority accepts electronic documents.
However, paper apostille is often safer when:
- the employer wants original documents
- the visa office needs paper documents
- embassy legalisation is required
- the document is for a regulator or ministry
- the country does not accept e-Apostilles
- the document will be submitted in person
- the authority has not confirmed digital acceptance
Before choosing e-Apostille, ask the employer or authority whether it accepts electronic apostilles.
How recent should work documents be?
Some overseas employers and visa authorities require documents to be recent.
This commonly applies to:
- police certificates
- DBS certificates
- medical certificates
- employment letters
- references
- proof of address
- bank statements
- salary letters
Academic certificates usually do not expire, but the receiving authority may still require recent verification, a fresh university letter or a certified copy.
Before legalising a document, check whether the recipient has a validity period.
Common mistakes to avoid
Common mistakes include:
- applying for DBS when ACRO is required
- using basic DBS when enhanced DBS is requested
- submitting degree copies without certification
- using old police certificates
- sending reference letters without official letterhead
- using employment letters with no signatory details
- forgetting apostille before translation
- translating documents in the wrong order
- choosing e-Apostille when paper documents are required
- forgetting embassy attestation
- assuming the employer and visa authority need the same documents
- leaving legalisation until the start date is close
These mistakes can delay job offers, visa approvals and relocation plans.
How to prepare UK documents for working abroad
The process usually works as follows.
1. ask for the employer’s document list
Get a written checklist from the employer, recruiter, visa adviser, professional regulator or immigration authority.
2. separate employer documents from visa documents
The employer may need one set of documents, while the visa authority may need another.
3. check which documents are UK-issued
UK-issued documents need UK legalisation. Documents issued in another country usually need legalisation in that country.
4. order missing documents
Apply for ACRO, DBS, degree replacements, transcripts, certificates or references as early as possible.
5. check names and dates
Make sure names, previous names, dates of birth and passport details match across documents.
6. arrange certification where needed
Copies, private letters, PDFs and statements may need solicitor or notary certification before apostille.
7. arrange apostille
Submit eligible UK documents for FCDO apostille.
8. arrange translation or embassy legalisation
Complete certified translation or embassy attestation in the correct order.
How we can help
We can help prepare UK documents for working abroad.
Our service can include checking which documents may need apostille, advising whether solicitor or notary certification is needed, arranging certified copies, submitting documents for FCDO apostille, advising on paper apostille or e-Apostille, helping with embassy legalisation and arranging certified translation where required.
If you have a job offer abroad, send us the employer’s checklist, visa instructions and destination country. We can help confirm which UK documents need legalisation before your start date.