An HMRC certificate of residence confirms to a foreign tax authority that you are resident in the UK for tax purposes, so you can claim relief under a double taxation agreement. Some countries also want the certificate apostilled. NotaryPublic24 arranges the FCDO Apostille, with tracked post both ways and FCDO fees included.
A certificate of residence is a document from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirming that you are a UK tax resident. You give it to a tax authority abroad when you claim tax relief there on foreign income that you pay UK tax on.
It is used by individuals and sole traders, companies, partnerships, trusts, charities, pension schemes and other organisations. An authorised agent, such as an accountant, can apply for you.
HMRC only issues a certificate when the UK has a double taxation agreement with the country concerned and you are entitled to its benefits. In other situations you may need a letter of confirmation of residence instead.
The two documents are easy to confuse. A certificate of residence is for claiming relief under a double taxation agreement. A letter of confirmation of residence is for countries without such an agreement, or when you need proof of UK tax residence for another purpose.
In both cases, the authority abroad decides whether to grant relief or accept the document. Some countries have their own form for HMRC to certify, which you send with your application.
For tax residency certificates issued by other countries, including the IRS in the United States, see our guide to the tax residency certificate.
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You apply to HMRC online, or by post to the address for your type of applicant. Full instructions are on GOV.UK.
HMRC needs to know which double taxation agreement and country the certificate is for, the type of income and the period it covers. A certificate cannot be requested for a future date.
If you have not filed a Self Assessment return for the period, you also give the number of days you spent in the UK and your arrival and departure dates. If you were in the UK for fewer than 183 days, explain why you consider yourself resident under the Statutory Residence Test.
Some tax authorities only accept a certificate of residence with an Apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO can only verify an original signature, and HMRC issues most certificates with an electronic signature. For countries that require an Apostille, such as Georgia, HMRC’s guidance says the certificate should be signed by an HMRC officer and date-stamped, so state in your application that you need an Apostille.
A certificate signed by an HMRC officer can be apostilled directly, without a notary. If you only have an electronically signed version, a UK notary can certify a copy for the Apostille. Check first that the authority abroad accepts this.
Order a UK Paper Apostille and we handle the FCDO submission and return post. Notarisation is included where it is needed.
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An Apostille is a certificate that makes your document valid in other countries. It's like a stamp of approval that confirms your document is real and can be used in countries that are part of the Apostille Convention. This agreement between countries makes it easier to use important documents like birth certificates and marriage licenses abroad without needing any other certifications. The Apostille verifies the signatures and seals on your document, ensuring it's accepted as genuine.
Notarization is the official process of having a document legally verified by a notary public. A notary public is an authorized official who verifies the identities of the people signing a document and confirms that the signatures are authentic. This process makes the document legally recognized and trustworthy, helping to prevent fraud and ensuring its validity for important matters like buying a house, signing a contract, or creating a will.
A Notary Public is an authorized official who has the right to issue certain certificates. An example is the Apostille stamp. A Notary Public is authorized by the state and applies their official seal and signature to certify the documents.
It proves to a foreign tax authority that you are resident in the UK for tax purposes. With it you can claim tax relief in that country under a double taxation agreement, on foreign income that you already pay UK tax on.
Individuals, sole traders, companies, partnerships, trusts, charities, public bodies and pension schemes that are UK resident for tax purposes. There must be a double taxation agreement with the other country, and an agent can apply on your behalf.
A certificate of residence is used to claim relief under a double taxation agreement. A letter of confirmation of residence is for countries without an agreement, or when you need proof of UK tax residence for another reason.
Only if the foreign authority asks for one. Some countries require it for certificates issued under a double taxation agreement. The FCDO can verify an HMRC officer's original signature without a notary, but not an electronic signature.
No. HMRC does not issue certificates for future dates. You apply for the period your foreign income relates to, and give HMRC the details of the income and the double taxation agreement.
No, you do not have to be physically present to get an Apostille online. However, you need to verify your identity with a government issued ID.
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