We can apostille most UK documents as long as they bear an original
signature, seal or stamp from a UK practising public organisation or
official and it originated or has been executed in the
UK. If a practising UK solicitor or notary public is signing a document
they should state clearly what exactly it is they are certifying in
relation to the document. They must sign in their own name and not use a
company signature. They should clearly print their name and their
firm's name under the signature.
We can apostille photocopies of certain types of document (listed
below) as long as they have been certified by a practising UK solicitor
or notary as being true photocopies. If you want to apostille a certified
photocopy of a particular document, and we are able to do this (see
below), you should also confirm with the end users of the document to
ensure that a certified photocopy is acceptable to them.
What can we legalise by apostille?
All educational papers, letters or certificates must be signed by a practising UK solicitor
or notary before they can be apostilled. The solicitor or notary should
either confirm that the document is original if that is the case, or a
true photocopy.
Educational papers which are not degrees, diplomas, certificates,
qualifications or other awards may be have an apostille if they have been issued
by an educational establishment in the UK. This includes school reports
and letters concerning enrolling, attendance, fees and grades.
Degrees, diplomas, certificates, qualifications
or other awards can be apostilled if they were issued by an educational
establishment if it is registered at one of the following websites:
- 'Register of Providers' or the 'Recognised Degrees' sections of the
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) website
- the Scottish Qualifications Authority website
- the National Database of Accredited Qualifications website
- the British Accreditation Council Website
- the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council
- the Association of British Language Schools
Additionally, qualifications which are or were issued by OCR,
Edexcel, Higher National Diploma, City and Guilds, National Open College
Network, GNVQ or the American Study Abroad Programme in the UK can also
be legalised.
We can only apostille original or certified copies of certificates
issued by the General Registry Office (GRO) or local Registry Offices in
the UK. The apostille certificate will be attached directly to the certificate.
We can also apostille original death certificates issued by a UK
coroner. Translations of these can also be apostilled if they have been
signed by a practising UK solicitor or notary. Please note that we are
NOT able to apostille photocopies of these, even if they have
been signed by a practising UK solicitor or notary or attached to a
notarial cover sheet.
Contact the GRO or your local Registry
Office for more information on obtaining certified copies of these types
of certificates.
Original CNIs and GRO issued letters confirming that there is no
trace of an individual currently being married can be apostilled. Please
note that we are not able to apostille photocopies of these documents,
even if they have been signed by a practising UK solicitor or notary
public or attached to a notarial cover sheet.
Contact the GRO or your local
Registry Office for more information on obtaining certified copies of
these types of certificates.
We cannot apostille photocopies of these under any
circumstances.
We cannot apostille original passports of any nationality. Photocopies
of the bio data page of British and foreign passports may be apostilled
if they have been certified by a UK solicitor or notary public as being
true photocopies of the original.
All change of name deed poll documents (originals as well as copies)
must be certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary public as being
original, or true photocopies, before they can be apostilled.
Original papers issued by UK courts can be apostilled. Photocopies
of these can also be apostilled if they have been certified by a
practising UK solicitor or notary public as being true copies of the
original.
Originals of these can be apostilled if they have been
signed in the UK by the individual(s) concerned and the signature(s)
witnessed by a practising UK solicitor or notary public.
The solicitor or notary public should certify this clearly on the
document.
We can apostille originals of these only if they have been
signed by an official of Companies House. If the originals do not bear
an original signature of a Companies House official then they must be
certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary public as being
originals. Photocopies of Companies House paperwork can be apostilled if they have been certified by a UK solicitor or notary public
as being true copies of the originals.
We can apostille export certificates only if they have been signed by
an official of the relevant UK Government Department. Photocopies of
export certificates may be lapostilled if a practising UK solicitor or notary
public has certified them to confirm that they are true copies of the
originals.
Original documents from HMRC can be apostilled if they are signed by
an HMRC official, a practising UK solicitor or a notary public.
Photocopies of these can also be apostilled if they have
been certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary public as being
true copies of the original.
Only originals issued by the National Identification Service
(NIS) and signed by an NIS official can be apostilled. We cannot apostille photocopies of these under any circumstances.
Original disclosures must be signed by a member of the
Criminal Records Bureau or a practising UK solicitor or notary public
before they can be apostilled. We cannot apostille photocopies of these under any circumstances.
Only originals from the Association Of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) can be apostilled and should be signed by an ACPO official.
Photocopies of these cannot be apostilled under any
circumstances.
We can apostille translations of UK documents issued or executed in
the UK. These need to be certified by a practising UK
solicitor or notary public confirming that they are true translations.
Please note that we are not able to apostille documents on the signatures
of the translators unless they are also a practising UK solicitor or
notary public, or a consular official.
If you have a foreign document which requires legalisation you should
contact the relevant Embassy, Consulate or High Commission in the UK
for advice.
If you have been advised that your document needs to be appended to a
notarial coversheet containing a certification from a practising UK
solicitor or notary public, we can only apostille the notarial
certificate.
Alternatively photocopies of foreign documents can be apostilled if
they have been certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary public
as being true copies of the original.
