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FCDO apostille

Apostille in United Kingdom for use abroad

Documents issued in United Kingdom – certificates, diplomas, court and notarial documents, company papers – are apostilled by United Kingdom’s designated authority and then accepted in 130 Convention countries. We organise the apostille, the translation and the delivery wherever you are.

Apostille

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Convention party since 1965 English

Designated competent authority (Art. 6)

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • The Legalisation Office
  • For the UK Overseas Territories, see below, under Contact Details:

HCCH record updated 07 May 2026

  1. 1
    Upload a scan
    We pre-check it and confirm the route
  2. 2
    Verify with your phone
    ID + selfie, ~3 minutes, then your quote
  3. 3
    We obtain the apostille
    Competent authority + sworn translation
  4. 4
    Delivered
    Courier worldwide or protected download

An apostille can only be issued in the country where the document was issued. For a document from United Kingdom that means United Kingdom’s designated authority; no other country can apostille it. We coordinate the submission in United Kingdom, the notary reviews your application first, and the document is returned with the apostille – by courier or, where United Kingdom issues electronic apostilles, as a verified PDF.

Authority fee: Postal Service : £45 per apostille issued. Next-Day Service for approved high volume businesses : £40 per apostille issued. e-Apostille Service (official fee, passed through 1:1 in your quote)

  • www.dgo.gov.vg
  • www.elections.gov.bm
  • www.britishantarcticterritory.org.uk
  • www.gov.uk

FCDO apostille: the official procedure in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office, by post or – for eligible documents – as an e-Apostille. The FCDO only apostilles documents bearing a signature it can verify: GRO and registry-office certificates, court documents, and documents certified by a UK solicitor or notary. Degree certificates and many private documents therefore need a solicitor or notary certification first.

  1. 1

    Get an FCDO-ready document

    A certified copy from the General Register Office or local register office for civil-status documents; ACRO certificate for police records; solicitor or notary certification for degrees, passports and private documents.

  2. 2

    Apply online

    Standard postal service, premium same-day service for businesses, or e-Apostille for documents already digitally signed by a UK notary or solicitor.

  3. 3

    Apostille

    The FCDO attaches a paper apostille or returns a digitally signed e-Apostille verifiable online.

  4. 4

    Translation & delivery

    We add translations and ship worldwide.

Before the apostille – by document
  • Birth, marriage, death: Certified copy from the GRO or register office (not a photocopy).
  • Degree certificate: Certified by a UK solicitor or notary first.
  • Police certificate: ACRO police certificate.
  • Company documents: Companies House certified copies.

Where an apostille from United Kingdom is not enough

No Contracting State has an objection in force against United Kingdom: the apostille is accepted in every other Convention country. Non-Convention countries (UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq …) still require consular legalisation.

Documents we apostille from United Kingdom

Birth certificateRequirements & fees
Marriage certificateRequirements & fees
University degree & transcriptRequirements & fees
Police clearance certificateRequirements & fees
Power of attorneyRequirements & fees

Commercial register extract

Handelsregisterauszug · extrait Kbis · certificación del Registro Mercantil

Requirements & fees

Where will your United Kingdom document be used?

Pick the destination and the document type to see the exact route and start with the details pre-filled.

Choose the destination to see the exact route for a birth certificate issued in United Kingdom.

Apostille in United Kingdom: questions

Yes, GRO and register-office certified copies carry signatures the FCDO holds, so no solicitor step is needed. Older certificates may need a new certified copy.

Yes – since Brexit the EU exemption no longer covers UK documents, so apostilles are required in both directions.

Under Article 6 of the Convention United Kingdom has designated: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; The Legalisation Office; For the UK Overseas Territories, see below, under Contact Details:. The notary reviews your application and we route the document to the right office.

In every other Contracting State – no objection is in force against United Kingdom. Non-Convention countries (for example the UAE, Qatar, Egypt) still need consular legalisation.

The authority’s fee listed with the HCCH: Postal Service : £45 per apostille issued. Next-Day Service for approved high volume businesses : £40 per apostille issued. e-Apostille Service. Official fees are passed through 1:1 and shown separately from Notaryzer’s service fee in your written quote; nothing is charged before you accept.

The apostille itself is standardised and accepted without translation. The document is in English; most recipients abroad want a sworn or certified translation into their language, which we add in the same order.

The Convention has been in force for United Kingdom since January 24, 1965.

Apostille for documents from United Kingdom

Competent authority, translation and worldwide delivery in one request, quoted before you pay.

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Questions? Write to [email protected]