Two countries
Apostille from United Kingdom to United States
At a glance
Can a document from the United Kingdom be used in the United States?
| Result | Apostille applies. |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| United States | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| 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 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from the United Kingdom ready for the United States
- Check that the document was issued in the UK and is a type the Legalisation Office can legalise.2
- Ask the person who wants the document whether they need the original or a certified copy, and whether a paper-based apostille or an e-Apostille is accepted.2
- If needed, have the document certified or signed by a UK notary or solicitor first.2
- Apply online for either a paper-based apostille or an e-Apostille.2
- For a paper-based apostille, send the documents by post (registered businesses may hand them in); for an e-Apostille, upload PDF files electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor.2
- Pay the fee for each document; it is not refunded if the document cannot be legalised.2
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United States 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 the United States used in the United Kingdom, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United States. Apostille from United States to United Kingdom
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 the United States
Is an apostille from the United Kingdom accepted in the United States?
Yes. An apostille from the United Kingdom is enough for the United States: both are members of the Apostille Convention (the United Kingdom since 24 January 1965, the United States since 15 October 1981). The apostille is issued in the United Kingdom by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. The published fee in the United Kingdom is £45. 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 the United States.
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 the United States also need a translation?
The office in the United States 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
- United States of America - Competent Authority (Art. 6)
- Requesting Authentication Services
- Request for Authentications Service (DS-4194)
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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