Apostille UK – Official Certificate Legalisation with FCDO Recognition

It’s simple! Just follow 4 quick steps: place your order through our secure online portal, select the documents you need legalised, and make the payment. From there, we’ll handle the entire process for you. For assistance, call us on +44 204 646 9400

Our apostille-only service starts from £79. The final price depends on the type of service you require. For a tailored quotation, please visit our pricing page or contact us at info@thehagueapostille.co.uk

Most UK-issued documents need to be legalised for use abroad. These typically include birth and marriage certificates, academic qualifications, and business documents. Get in touch with our specialists to confirm your specific requirements.

We provide a next-day apostille service for most UK documents, with processing usually completed within 24 hours (postage time not included).

An apostille is valid for countries that are members of the Hague Convention. For non-Hague Convention countries, embassy legalisation is required. Our team can guide you on the right option for your documents.

Yes. We provide a complete service, which includes both solicitor certification and official UK apostille, ensuring everything is done in one seamless process.

Yes, absolutely! We accept documents from all over the UK. Our nationwide postal service includes secure tracked delivery for your peace of mind.

Our experts carefully pre-check every document to reduce the risk of rejection. If any issue arises, we’ll contact you immediately with advice and next steps.

UK returns are sent by tracked Royal Mail (£8.75).
International returns are available via DHL or FedEx courier (£75).
You can also arrange your own courier collection if preferred.

Yes. Bulk or high-volume orders (typically over 50 documents) may qualify for discounted pricing.
Contact the service provider directly for a custom quote.

An apostille is an official certificate provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that verifies the authenticity of UK public documents for use in countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It confirms the genuineness of signatures, stamps, and seals, allowing documents such as birth certificates, academic qualifications, and corporate papers to be legally accepted overseas.

An apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It confirms that a public document is genuine, verifying the signatures, seals, or stamps on it. This makes documents such as birth certificates, degrees, and company papers legally valid in countries that accept apostilles.

• Standard apostille: £45
• e-Apostille: £35
• Solicitor certification (if required): £25
• Urgent / Restricted service: £250 (same-day, subject to approval)
• Courier delivery: from £8.75 (UK) or £75 (international)

• Next-day or express service: usually 1–2 working days
• e-Apostille: within 1–2 days
• Urgent same-day service: available only in special approved cases
• Standard processing (FCDO): around 5–7 working days by post

You can apostille most UK public documents, including:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Educational certificates and transcripts
• Company registration documents
• Powers of attorney
• Court or notary documents
• Police/DBS checks (originals only)

Public documents like birth or death certificates usually don’t need notarisation.
Private documents – such as contracts, powers of attorney, or passport copies – must be notarised or certified by a UK solicitor before they can receive an apostille.

No. The FCDO only apostilles documents that were issued or notarised in the United Kingdom.
If your document was issued abroad, it must be apostilled or legalised in the country of origin.

An apostille is a simplified form of legalisation used for countries that are part of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Legalisation, on the other hand, refers to the broader process that may also involve embassy or consulate verification for countries outside the Convention.

All member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention accept UK apostilles.
Examples include the USA, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe.
Countries not part of the Convention (such as China or the UAE) will require further embassy or consular legalisation.

Yes. You can apply online through the GOV.UK website or via a registered agent like 1st Apostille.
Simply upload or send your document and complete payment online.

Each UK apostille has a unique reference number.
You can verify its authenticity using the official GOV.UK “Verify an apostille” tool online.

An apostille itself does not expire. However, the validity of the underlying document may be limited by the receiving authority or country. For example, some institutions may require documents issued within the last 6 or 12 months.

Yes. The UK offers electronic apostilles (e-Apostilles) for eligible digital documents.
They are issued online and usually processed within 1–2 working days.
Note: certain documents, such as birth or death certificates, cannot receive an e-Apostille.

No. Apostilles are only required when using UK documents in another country.
Within the UK, documents are already legally valid without an apostille.

Order a recent original birth certificate from the General Register Office (issued within the last 6 months if possible).
Submit it to the FCDO or an authorised service for apostille.
Birth certificates must be original and cannot receive an e-Apostille.

Educational documents such as degrees, diplomas, or transcripts often require solicitor or notary certification first.
Once certified, they can be submitted to the FCDO for apostille.

Yes, but only through the Urgent Restricted service (cost: £250) and with prior approval.
This option is reserved for emergency cases or official authorisation.

Company documents from Companies House (like incorporation certificates) can be apostilled directly.
Other documents may need to be certified by a solicitor first before submission.

Yes, powers of attorney can be apostilled.
They must be signed and notarised before submission to the FCDO or agent.

You can apostille original DBS or ACRO police certificates.
They cannot receive an e-Apostille and must be submitted as physical documents.

You can still apply online from abroad.
Post your documents to the UK address provided by the FCDO or your chosen service, and they will return them to you internationally via courier.