Apostille Legalisation & Notarisation Services

When doing business overseas, you may be asked to provide documents that have been officially authenticated before they will be accepted by a foreign authority, customer, bank, agent or other organisation.

This can apply to a wide range of commercial and legal documents, including company documents, certificates, powers of attorney, contracts and other paperwork being used overseas.

Depending on the country and the document involved, you may need an Apostille, notarisation, embassy legalisation – or a combination of these. Getting the process wrong can result in documents being rejected and cause unnecessary delays to your international business.

We can take care of the process for you

Our documentation specialists can help you identify the authentication your documents require and arrange the appropriate Apostille, notarisation and legalisation services, helping ensure they are correctly prepared for use overseas.

We have an exclusive daily appointment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office, helping us process urgent trade and public documents and support businesses with time-sensitive legalisation requirements.

What is an Apostille?

An Apostille is an official certificate used to authenticate the origin of a UK public document so that it can be recognised for official use overseas.

The FCDO Legalisation Office checks the signature, stamp or seal on the document against its records. If it can be legalised, an Apostille is attached to confirm its authenticity.

Documents that may require legalisation can include:

• Company documents and Companies House certificates
• Powers of attorney
• Contracts and agreements
• Qualification certificates
• Government-issued documents
• Certified copies of certain documents
• Other commercial and legal documentation

Some documents may need to be certified by a UK notary or solicitor before they can be legalised.

Do I need an Apostille?

The requirements depend on where your document will be used, the type of document and the requirements of the organisation requesting it.

For countries where the Hague Apostille Convention applies, an Apostille generally replaces the traditional legalisation process between participating countries.

Where the Convention does not apply, additional legalisation may be required. This can include having the document Apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office before obtaining further legalisation through the relevant country's embassy or authorities.

Not sure what your documents require?

Speak to our documentation specialists before submitting your documents and we can help you identify the appropriate process.

Which countries are covered by the Hague Apostille Convention?

The countries participating in the Hague Apostille Convention can change, so we recommend checking the latest information before arranging document legalisation.

View the list of countries covered by the Hague Apostille Convention 

Please note: requirements can vary depending on the country, document and receiving authority. If you are unsure, speak to our documentation specialists before proceeding.

Notarisation Services

We also provide notarisation services for commercial and legal documents that need to be formally certified for use overseas.

Depending on your requirements, we can help with signature verification, certified translations and the authentication of private documents. Where required, documents can be notarised before Apostille or embassy legalisation, allowing us to help you manage the different stages of the process.

Our notarisation services can help you:

• Verify signatures – helping ensure documents are appropriately authenticated for use overseas
• Arrange translation and notarisation – combining accurate translation with the required certification
• Prepare documents for further legalisation – including Apostille or embassy requirements where applicable
• Save time – by coordinating different documentation requirements through one specialist team

If you are unsure whether your document needs notarisation, an Apostille, embassy legalisation or a combination of these, speak to us before submitting it and we can advise you on the appropriate process.

Need documents authenticated for use overseas?

Let us help you navigate the requirements and make sure your documents follow the appropriate legalisation process.

Contact our documentation specialists on +44 0845 034 7200 or email us for specialist advice.