Two countries
Apostille from United Kingdom to Qatar
At a glance
Can a document from the United Kingdom be used in Qatar?
| Result | Apostille does not apply between these countries. |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Qatar | No apostille not in the Apostille Convention1 |
| Apostille issued by | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office2 |
| Fee in United Kingdom | £45 (per document, standard paper-based service, plus courier or postage costs)2 £40 (per document, Next-Day paper-based service for registered businesses only)2 £35 (per document, e-Apostille)2 |
| Processing time in United Kingdom | Standard paper-based: usually up to 25 working days plus courier or postage time; Next-Day: next working day; e-Apostille: up to 2 working days; Restricted Urgent: same day; any service may take longer if a signature must be verified2 |
| Who to ask in Qatar | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Department of Consular Affairs, Attestation Department3 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from the United Kingdom ready for Qatar
- Ask the office in Qatar that will receive the document exactly what it needs.
- Documents issued abroad are attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country and then by the Qatari mission there, and since December 2024 an online service on the Qatari ministry's website sends them to the mission for this attestation to be completed.3
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in Qatar that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from Qatar used in the United Kingdom, the apostille or legalisation starts in Qatar. Check Qatar to United Kingdom
- Joining later. .
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from the United Kingdom for Qatar
Is an apostille from the United Kingdom accepted in Qatar?
No. Qatar is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough for documents between the United Kingdom and Qatar. A different process, usually called legalisation, applies. Check the steps with the authorities of Qatar before you send anything. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from the United Kingdom?
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in Qatar.
How much does the apostille cost in the United Kingdom?
The published fee in the United Kingdom is £45. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in the United Kingdom. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does Qatar also need a translation?
The office in Qatar that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Get your document legalised
- Complete Attestation Outside Qatar
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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