Apostille Legalisation Service
in the UK

Whether you need an Apostille for a birth certificate, a legal contract, or company documents, our team arranges the correct UK certification and legalisation so your paperwork is accepted overseas without delays.

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What is an apostille?

An apostille is an official certificate that proves a document issued in one country is genuine and can be legally recognised in another. In the UK, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It confirms that the signature, stamp, or seal on your document is authentic and has been properly authorised. The apostille is attached directly to the original document or a certified copy, making it legally valid for use abroad.

If you need to use a UK document overseas—for example for a marriage, university application, business setup, or immigration process—you’ll usually be asked to provide it with an apostille. Without it, foreign authorities may reject your document.

Our team guides you through the full FCDO legalisation process, ensuring your documents are prepared correctly and recognised internationally.

Close-up image of a business contract and pen, signed and ready for agreement.
HOW IT WORKS

How Our Apostille Legalisation Service Works

Submit your document

Send us a clear scan or photo of your document. We’ll confirm if the original needs to be posted.

Assessment & Quote

We review your document type and requirements, then provide a quote with estimated timeframe.

FCDO Apostille Legalisation

We arrange the apostille at the FCDO, solicitor or notary certification that your documents may need.

Delivery

Your legalised documents are returned by secure mail or international courier, as agreed with you beforehand.

Need an apostille but not sure where to start?

We’ll explain what’s required for your document — for example, if it needs solicitor certification first — and take care of the legalisation process for you.

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FAQ

It depends on the document. Many items can be legalised as a solicitor/notary-certified copy. Some, however, typically need the original (e.g., General Register Office birth/marriage/death certificates and ACRO/DBS police certificates). We’ll confirm what’s required for your document before you post anything.

With our service, apostille legalisation usually takes around 4–5 working days from when we receive your documents. Times can vary depending on volume and FCDO turnaround, so we’ll confirm the expected timeframe when you request a quote.

Common examples include civil register certificates (birth/marriage/death), academic diplomas/transcripts, ACRO/DBS checks, powers of attorney/affidavits, company documents (incorporation, good standing), and certified translations. Ask us if yours isn’t listed — chances are we’ve handled it.

Only Hague Convention countries recognise an apostille. If your document is for a non-Hague country, you’ll usually need embassy/consular legalisation after the apostille. Tell us the destination and we’ll outline the steps.

Yes — provided the certification page bears a UK solicitor/notary signature (we can arrange this if needed). The apostille confirms the signature, not the content of the translation.

Often, yes (e.g., academic or company documents). The FCDO legalises signatures in its records; if the original signer isn’t on file, a solicitor/notary certification may be required first. Sometimes, we won’t be able to provide solicitor or notary certification as you will need to be present to sign the document in front of the notary or solicitor. We’ll advise exactly what’s needed in each case.

Post originals/certified copies to us by secure, trackable delivery. We return everything via secure post, such as Royal Mail Tracked 24 (or another service, such as courier, on request). Your documents are handled confidentially and with care.

An apostille is a paper certificate issued by the FCDO. It is glued to the back of your document, with an official stamp and unique number applied. This confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp on the document.

The certificate itself doesn’t have an expiry date, but receiving organisations may set validity windows (e.g., within 3–6 months). If timing matters, tell us your deadline and destination country.

No. A document must be legalised in the country where it was issued. If you have a non-UK document, contact that country’s embassy/consulate; we’re happy to point you in the right direction.

Arrange Your Apostille Today

From birth and marriage certificates to academic and company documents, we’ll arrange apostille legalisation so your paperwork is accepted abroad. Request a no-obligation quote today and we’ll guide you through each step of the process with clarity and care.

Request a Free Quote