Almost any official UK document can be apostilled. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) legalises documents issued by UK courts, public registries, government departments and registered doctors, and any other UK document once a UK notary or solicitor has certified it.
This guide lists the apostille documents UK applicants ask about, explains which ones must be certified first, when you can use the faster e-Apostille, and how the process works step by step.
Key Takeaways
- Only the FCDO issues UK Apostilles. A solicitor or notary cannot issue one; they certify the document so the FCDO can legalise it.
- Public documents go straight to the FCDO: birth, marriage and death certificates, court documents with a wet ink seal, Companies House certificates, signed government letters and signed medical certificates.
- Everything else is certified first by a UK notary or solicitor, for example powers of attorney, contracts, degree certificates and copies of a passport or driving licence.
- e-Apostille costs £35 at the FCDO and takes up to 2 working days, but only for PDFs electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor, and never for GRO certificates, ACRO or DBS certificates.
- Paper Apostille costs £45 plus courier and usually takes up to 25 working days at the FCDO.
- Documents issued outside the UK cannot be apostilled in the UK, and countries outside the Hague Convention need consular legalisation instead.
Who Can Apostille a Document in the UK?
Only the FCDO Legalisation Office can apostille a document in the UK. The Apostille is a certificate attached to the document that confirms the signature, stamp or seal on it is genuine, so that authorities in other Hague Convention countries accept it.
A solicitor cannot apostille a document, and neither can a notary. What they do is certify the document, by witnessing a signature or certifying a copy, so that the document carries the signature of a UK public official that the FCDO can verify.
That is why the process has two parts for private documents: certification by a notary or solicitor, then legalisation by the FCDO. NotaryPublic24 handles both parts in one order.
Which UK Documents Can Be Apostilled?
GOV.UK says a document can be legalised if it was issued by a UK court, a public registry, a government department or a registered doctor, or if a UK public official such as a notary or solicitor has certified it. GOV.UK also notes that its list is not exhaustive.
| Category | Examples | Certified first? | Apostille type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil status | Birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, civil partnership certificate | No, original GRO certificate | Paper only |
| Court documents | Decree absolute, grant of probate, court orders with a wet ink seal | No | Paper |
| Criminal record checks | ACRO police certificate, DBS certificate | No | Paper only |
| Company documents | Companies House certificates, certificate of incorporation, certificate of good standing | Certificates with an original Companies House signature: no. Copies and resolutions: yes | Paper or e-Apostille |
| Government letters | HMRC letters, certificate of residence, certificate of naturalisation | Signed originals: no. Copies: yes | Paper or e-Apostille |
| Education | Degree certificate, diplomas and transcripts | Yes | Paper or e-Apostille |
| Medical | Medical report signed by a registered doctor | No, if signed by the doctor | Paper or e-Apostille |
| Personal and legal | Power of attorney, contracts, affidavits, certified copy of a passport or driving licence | Yes | Paper or e-Apostille |
“Certified first” refers to the paper route. For an e-Apostille, every document is first electronically certified by a UK notary or solicitor, including public documents.
Each linked page explains the requirements for that document type. If your document is not in the table, it can still be apostilled once a UK notary or solicitor has certified it, as long as it was issued in the UK.
Documents That Must Be Certified by a Notary or Solicitor First
The FCDO only legalises a signature, stamp or seal it can verify. A document from a court, registry, government department or registered doctor already carries one. Anything else needs a certification by a UK public official before it is sent to the FCDO.
GOV.UK gives these examples of documents that need certifying first: a power of attorney, a contract, a qualification certificate, and copies of documents such as a passport or a driving licence.
Other examples are degree certificates, company resolutions, commercial agreements, affidavits and statutory declarations for use abroad, and any photocopy of an original. The notary or solicitor signs the document or a certified copy of it, and the FCDO then legalises that signature.
With NotaryPublic24, the certification is included in the Apostille order. An appointed UK Notary Public reviews and certifies the document before it goes to the FCDO, so you do not need a separate solicitor appointment.
Paper Apostille or e-Apostille?
The FCDO offers two formats. The paper Apostille is attached to the physical document and works for every eligible document type. The e-Apostille is a digital certificate issued on a PDF, faster and cheaper, but limited to certain documents and only useful if the receiving authority accepts digital certification.
| Paper Apostille (FCDO) | e-Apostille (FCDO) | |
|---|---|---|
| FCDO fee | £45 per document, plus courier or postage | £35 per document |
| FCDO processing time | Usually up to 25 working days | Up to 2 working days |
| Works for | All eligible UK documents, including GRO certificates, ACRO and DBS | PDFs electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor |
| Not available for | Documents issued outside the UK | GRO certificates, ACRO and DBS certificates, Scottish and Northern Irish disclosure certificates, fingerprint certificates, ACCA certificates |
| Via NotaryPublic24 | UK Paper Apostille, 4 to 5 weeks, FCDO fees and notarisation included | UK e-Apostille, 2 to 3 working days, FCDO fees and notarisation included |
Before choosing the e-Apostille, confirm that the recipient accepts digital documents with an e-Apostille, and whether they accept documents certified by a solicitor or only by a notary. GOV.UK warns that the fee is not refunded if the recipient rejects a legalised document.
How to Apostille a Document in the UK: Step by Step
You can apply to the FCDO yourself or let NotaryPublic24 handle the whole process. These are the steps in both cases.
- Check what the recipient needs. Ask whether they want the original or a certified copy, whether a notary or a solicitor must certify it, and whether an e-Apostille is accepted.
- Get the document certified if required. Public documents with an original signature or seal skip this step. Everything else is signed by a UK notary or solicitor.
- Apply to the FCDO. Applying yourself means applying online on GOV.UK, paying £45 or £35 per document and posting paper documents to the Legalisation Office. The standard paper service usually takes up to 25 working days plus postage.
- Receive the Apostille. The paper certificate is attached to the document and returned by courier or post. The e-Apostille is delivered as a secure PDF that the recipient can verify online.
With NotaryPublic24 you upload the document, complete the checkout and verify your identity online. Our UK Notary Public certifies the document, we submit it to the FCDO and pay the fees, and you receive the apostilled document by tracked post or as a PDF. Read about current timings on our UK Apostille turnaround page, or start on the UK Apostille service page.
Documents That Cannot Be Apostilled in the UK
The FCDO only legalises documents issued in the UK. A document issued in another country must be apostilled by the authority of that country, even if you live in the UK.
A UK Apostille is also only recognised in countries that have joined the Hague Apostille Convention. If the destination country is not a member, the document needs consular legalisation at that country’s embassy after the FCDO step. NotaryPublic24 does not currently offer consular legalisation, so check the destination before you order.
Finally, the FCDO cannot legalise a document without a verifiable UK signature, stamp or seal. A plain photocopy or an unsigned letter is not accepted until a notary or solicitor has certified it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apostille a document in the UK?
Only the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office issues UK Apostilles. Notaries and solicitors cannot issue an Apostille, but they certify documents so that the FCDO can legalise them. Services such as NotaryPublic24 arrange both the certification and the FCDO application for you.
Can a solicitor apostille a document in the UK?
No. A solicitor can certify a document or witness a signature, which is often required before the FCDO will legalise it, but the Apostille itself is always issued by the FCDO. The same applies to notaries: they certify, the FCDO apostilles.
Which documents can be apostilled in the UK?
Any document issued by a UK court, public registry, government department or registered doctor, and any other UK document that a UK notary or solicitor has certified. Common examples are birth, marriage and death certificates, ACRO and DBS certificates, Companies House documents, degree certificates, powers of attorney and certified copies of passports.
How long does it take to apostille a document in the UK?
The FCDO’s standard paper service usually takes up to 25 working days plus postage, and the e-Apostille up to 2 working days. Through NotaryPublic24, a paper Apostille is delivered in 4 to 5 weeks and an e-Apostille in 2 to 3 working days, with notarisation and FCDO fees included.
How much does an Apostille cost in the UK?
The FCDO charges £45 per document for a paper Apostille, plus courier or postage, and £35 for an e-Apostille. If a notary or solicitor must certify the document first, their fee comes on top. NotaryPublic24’s UK Paper Apostille costs €229 and the UK e-Apostille €189, including notarisation and all FCDO fees.
Do I need the original document for an Apostille?
It depends on the recipient and the document. GRO certificates, ACRO and DBS certificates and sealed court documents are apostilled as originals. For other documents a certified copy made by a UK notary or solicitor can be apostilled instead, if the receiving authority accepts a copy. Ask the recipient before you order.
Can a document issued outside the UK get a UK Apostille?
No. The FCDO only legalises documents issued in the UK. A foreign document must be apostilled in the country that issued it. If you hold a foreign document and live in the UK, contact the issuing country’s authority or its embassy.