United Kingdom
Apostille in the United Kingdom
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in the United Kingdom, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Ratified (signed and confirmed), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office, UK public documents and documents certified by a UK notary or solicitor2 |
| Fee | £45 (per document, standard paper-based service, plus courier or postage costs)2checked 18 October 2026 £40 (per document, Next-Day paper-based service for registered businesses only)2checked 18 October 2026 £35 (per document, e-Apostille)2checked 18 October 2026 £100 (per document, Restricted Urgent same-day paper-based service for registered businesses only)2checked 18 October 2026 £6 (return courier to the UK (including British Forces Post Office), per 1.5kg)2checked 18 October 2026 £32 (return courier to European countries (with listed exceptions), per 1.5kg)2checked 18 October 2026 £42 (return courier to the rest of the world, per 1.5kg)2checked 18 October 2026 About €53.33 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | 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 verified2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Available2 |
| Documents covered | 7 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in the United Kingdom
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
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Court documents sealed with a wet ink court seal2
- Birth, marriage and death certificates from a public registry2
- Company certificates issued by Companies House2
- Government department documents signed by a civil servant, such as a letter confirming tax registration2
- Medical certificates signed by a registered doctor2
- Powers of attorney, contracts and qualification certificates certified by a UK notary or solicitor2
- Copies of passports or driving licences certified by a UK notary or solicitor2
More about these documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, power of attorney, court judgment, company registration certificate, certified copy of a document.
Contacts
Who to contact in the United Kingdom
- Apostille officeForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office2UK public documents and documents certified by a UK notary or solicitor
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in the United Kingdom
A document issued in the United Kingdom
The apostille comes from the United Kingdom, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with the United Kingdom.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in the United Kingdom
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
Documents issued outside the UK cannot be legalised by this office; they must be legalised in the country that issued them.2
Note: Rule
A private document such as a power of attorney or a contract can be legalised once it has been certified by a UK public servant, such as a UK notary or solicitor.2
Note: Rule
An e-Apostille is not available for birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates or other General Register Office documents, ACRO police certificates, DBS certificates, Scottish and Northern Irish disclosure certificates, fingerprint certificates and ACCA membership certificates.2
Note: Rule
Legalised documents currently cannot be returned to Russia, Ukraine or Belarus.2
Note: Rule
The Restricted Urgent service needs advance clearance by email to UrgentLegalisation@fcdo.gov.uk.2
Before the apostille
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.
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 apostilles in United Kingdom
Does United Kingdom accept apostilles?
Yes. United Kingdom has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 24 January 1965, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in United Kingdom?
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office (UK public documents and documents certified by a UK notary or solicitor).
How much does an apostille cost in United Kingdom?
£45 (per document, standard paper-based service, plus courier or postage costs). £40 (per document, Next-Day paper-based service for registered businesses only). £35 (per document, e-Apostille). £100 (per document, Restricted Urgent same-day paper-based service for registered businesses only). £6 (return courier to the UK (including British Forces Post Office), per 1.5kg). £32 (return courier to European countries (with listed exceptions), per 1.5kg). £42 (return courier to the rest of the world, per 1.5kg). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in United Kingdom?
The office says: 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 verified.
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. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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