Importance of Apostille for UK Documents
An apostille can help a foreign authority recognise the origin of an eligible official document. But it does not prove the information is true, translate the wording or guarantee a document will be accepted. Before paying for legalisation, check where the document was issued, which country will receive it and whether that authority actually requires an apostille.
For UK-issued papers, official apostilles come from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. Foreign-issued documents follow the issuing country's competent-authority route.
UK FCDO · Hague Apostille Convention · Certified copies · Notaries · Translation
Signature & seal authentication
Why is an apostille important — and what does it not do?
The 1961 Hague Apostille Convention simplifies authentication of eligible public documents for use in another applicable Convention country. An apostille confirms the signature on the document, the capacity in which the signer acted and, where relevant, its official seal or stamp. The receiving authority still decides what legal effect to give the document.
Official origin
- The authenticity of the relevant signature
- The official capacity in which the signer acted
- The identity of an official seal or stamp
- An auditable, numbered certificate issued by the competent authority
Content or automatic acceptance
- Whether a claimed fact in the document is true
- Whether its translation is accurate
- Whether a foreign court or registrar must accept it
- Whether the document is valid for a specific transaction
Do you need an apostille for your document?
Use this sequence before booking a translation, notary or legalisation service. The receiving institution's written instructions control the result.
Was the document issued in the UK?
Yes: check eligibility with the FCDO Legalisation Office. No: the FCDO cannot apostille it; contact the competent authority in the country that issued it.
UK eligible document guidance →Is it for another Convention country?
Check the current Hague Convention status, actual country of destination and whether the receiving organisation asks for an apostille. If the Convention route does not apply, an embassy/consular chain may be needed.
HCCH Contracting Parties and authorities →Paper or electronic? Translation too?
Some documents are ineligible for e-Apostilles, and foreign recipients can request paper originals or certified translations. Ask whether the apostille should authenticate the original, a notarial statement or both.
Paper vs e-Apostille eligibility →Simple rule: apostille the eligible original or notarial signature only when the destination requires it; translate the contents separately when the recipient needs another language.
Which documents may need an apostille?
A certificate from a public register, a private corporate agreement and a document issued overseas need different preparation. These examples identify what to ask before applying.
Birth, marriage, civil partnership and death certificates
An official UK register-issued certificate may be legalised for use abroad, but the UK's e-Apostille service excludes General Register Office civil certificates. If the overseas authority requests an apostille, check the paper route and whether it needs a recent full certificate rather than a short extract.
Certificate of incorporation and corporate filings
Some Companies House-issued certificates and other eligible UK public-register documents can be legalised. A downloaded online filing, certified company record, directors’ statement or ordinary private company letter may need different preparation. Ask the receiving bank or registrar whether it wants the original registry document or a notarially certified copy.
Sealed judgments and official court documents
FCDO says certain court documents bearing a wet-ink court seal may be eligible for legalisation. A private summary of litigation, a solicitor’s informal letter and a sealed court order are not the same original. Check what the foreign court or authority requires and whether translation of the order is separately needed.
Notarised powers of attorney, declarations and deeds
UK private instruments commonly require a UK notary or solicitor to verify a signature before the FCDO can authenticate that professional's signature or seal. An apostille does not establish that a power is valid under another country’s law or that the signer has the authority claimed.
Degrees, transcripts, professional and HR letters
A university diploma or employer letter may need prior UK notarial or solicitor certification before legalisation, depending on the document and the authority. An apostille never verifies degree equivalence, the truth of employment claims or professional registration. Ask the receiving education ministry or employer what it considers acceptable.
Overseas birth certificates, contracts and civil records
The UK FCDO Legalisation Office **cannot apostille a document issued abroad**. A Lithuanian certificate, Portuguese birth extract, Brazilian deed, UAE court record or other foreign public document generally needs authentication by the competent authority in the country of origin. A UK-certified English translation can be prepared separately if the UK recipient asks for one.
Important: UK birth and marriage certificates cannot get an e-Apostille
GOV.UK lists civil-register certificates from the General Register Office among the categories excluded from the UK's electronic apostille service. Its electronic route also requires a PDF electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor. Check both document eligibility and recipient format before submitting.
For eligible official physical documents
Apply online, then follow the FCDO’s instructions to send the eligible document by post. The original and an official apostille will be returned via an eligible postage or courier option. The recipient may specifically require the paper version.
- Typically the route for GRO civil certificates
- Requires original or otherwise permitted physical document
- Postal/courier transit adds time and cost
For eligible electronically signed PDFs
The UK service requires an eligible PDF signed electronically by a UK solicitor or notary. The FCDO issues a downloadable electronic certificate when approved. Certain public records, including GRO certificates and ACRO/DBS documents, are excluded from the UK's e-Apostille route.
- Confirm the document is not on the exclusion list
- Check the recipient’s digital submission needs
- Do not assume any ordinary PDF will qualify
Apostille vs certified translation, notarisation and legalisation
Confusing the stages can cost money and delay submission. The table separates the evidence each step does and does not provide.
| Formality | What it establishes | Who handles it | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation | Accuracy and completeness of the text rendered into another language | Translator/translation provider | Original official document's signature or seal |
| Certified copy | That a copy matches the original seen by the certifying professional | Appropriate certifying professional | Truth of the original document or translation quality |
| Notarisation | What the notary actually witnesses or verifies, such as identity/signature | Notary public | Foreign acceptance or content accuracy |
| Apostille | Origin of the signature, official capacity or seal on an eligible public document | Designated competent authority such as UK FCDO | Factual content, legal effect or foreign translation |
| Consular legalisation | Additional authentication through relevant diplomatic/consular chain where required | Relevant ministries/embassies | Truth of document content or translation |
How much does a UK apostille cost and how long does it take?
As checked on 29 October 2026, GOV.UK publishes the following fees and indicative processing times. These are FCDO charges, not Locate Translate prices, and can change. Any solicitor, notary, translation or courier charges are separate.
Per document, plus return postage or courier. GOV.UK currently gives a usual processing time of up to 25 working days, plus delivery.
Per eligible electronic document. GOV.UK lists a usual time of up to 2 working days, subject to signature checks and eligibility.
Next-day or restricted urgent services have separate eligibility rules and official fees. An individual applicant cannot assume access to them.
How to verify a UK apostille number
The UK operates an official online verification service. To check a UK paper or electronic apostille, obtain the apostille number and date of issue from the certificate and use the government checker. This checks the apostille record; it does not separately certify the truth of the underlying document.
Verify Apostille
Use the GOV.UK service rather than relying only on a supplier's screenshot, stamp design or email assertion.
How to prepare documents when you also need translation
Document authentication and translation accuracy should be scoped separately. Confirm with the receiving body whether the apostilled original, translator declaration or whole bundle needs translation or notarisation.
Check the recipient
Ask for its written requirements, destination country and accepted document format.
Obtain the proper original
Get the official certified registry record, not an incomplete photo or unrelated letter.
Follow the right legalisation route
Use UK FCDO for eligible UK-issued papers; foreign originals need their issuer's authority.
Translate where necessary
Upload the complete text, all reverse pages and any apostille attached, if that is what the recipient requests.
Order the required certified translation directly. For a government apostille, apply through the official issuing authority.
Importance of apostille FAQs
Answers about eligible documents, foreign certificates, the FCDO, e-Apostilles, UK charges and certified translation.
What is an apostille and why is it important?
An apostille is an official certificate used under the Hague Apostille Convention to authenticate the origin of qualifying public documents for use abroad. It confirms a signature, official capacity or seal, not the truth of the underlying content.
Do all overseas document submissions need an apostille?
No. First ask the receiving country or institution. Some cases need only a certified translation or the original, while others need an apostille, a notarial step or consular legalisation. Do not buy every service automatically.
Can a UK apostille authenticate a Lithuanian, Brazilian or UAE-issued document?
No. GOV.UK states its Legalisation Office cannot legalise documents issued outside the UK. Foreign-issued originals should be taken through the competent authority in their country of issue.
Is an apostille the same as a certified translation?
No. Translation certification concerns the faithful rendering of the text and the translator's declaration. An apostille authenticates the original official signature, role or seal. An overseas recipient may require both or only one.
Does an apostille prove the contents of a document are true?
No. The HCCH explicitly explains that apostilles verify document origin, not factual accuracy, authenticity of every statement or the legal effect of its contents.
Can a UK birth or marriage certificate receive an e-Apostille?
No. GOV.UK currently excludes birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates and other General Register Office documents from the UK e-Apostille service. Check the paper-based route if an apostille is required.
What does a UK e-Apostille require?
GOV.UK says electronic apostilles are applied for online using PDF documents electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor, and lists ineligible categories. Check the recipient and exact document before submitting.
Should the original document or translation be apostilled?
Ask the receiving authority exactly what it wants: apostille on the original public document, authenticated translator/notary signature on a translated declaration, or both. An apostille for one signature does not automatically authenticate the other document.
How much does UK apostille legalisation cost?
At the time of this review, GOV.UK lists £45 per standard paper apostille and £35 per e-Apostille, plus applicable return postage or courier for paper documents. Other routes are limited to qualifying registered businesses. Always check the current government charges before applying.
How long does FCDO legalisation take?
GOV.UK currently gives a usual period of up to 25 working days for standard paper legalisation plus delivery time, and up to two working days for an e-Apostille, subject to additional signature checks. They are official estimates, not a delivery promise by Locate Translate.
How can I check if a UK apostille is genuine?
Use the GOV.UK Verify an Apostille service with the apostille's date of issue and apostille number. The service handles both paper and electronic UK apostilles.
Is an apostille always sufficient for a non-Convention country?
No. The Hague Apostille Convention is designed for use between applicable Contracting Parties. Other jurisdictions may require additional diplomatic or consular legalisation; the receiving country controls the required process.
Can an apostille be used for UKVI instead of translation?
An apostille is not a substitute for providing a complete certified English translation when a visa or other UK immigration route requires one. UKVI's own supporting document rules and the issuing country's authentication requirements are separate.
Can Locate Translate issue an official UK apostille?
Only a designated competent authority can issue an apostille. In the UK, that is the FCDO Legalisation Office for its service. Locate Translate can help with document translation and explain the distinction, but this page does not claim it issues government apostilles.
Get the right document and formalities first.
Apostille requirements come from the destination authority. Translate only what that authority needs and keep the eligible original and authentication pathway clear.
Questions about the translation of an apostilled document?
Use the existing enquiry form or email hello@locatetranslate.co.uk. For direct translation orders, upload the source files online. UK apostilles themselves are issued by the FCDO.