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Apostille/ Legalisation

We facilitate your Legalisation requests for commercial/ work/ family reunion/ other purposes. The FCDO will check if the document is genuine and attach a stamped official certificate (an ‘apostille’) to it. Upload your documents and we will review & process the application asap.

We are able to get your doucment(s) processed on the same working day. Varies Embassy/ Consulate attestations & authentications are also available.

Processing Time – Apostille

Most successful applications received before 09:30am can be submitted to the authority on the same working day. Documents arrived afterwards can only be processed and submitted by the next working day.

FCDO Service TypePremium Processing Time Standard Processing Time
Processing TimeSame Day/ 24 hrs72 hrs/ up to 1 Week
Originals can be accepted byIn Person/ Courier/ By PostIn Person/ Courier/ By Post
Expected Collection Date
(e.g. Received by Monday 9:30am )
Monday/ Tuesday
*Please email us before lodging your application
Thursday / Monday next week
Apostille Meaning – The Hague Apostille, FCO Apostille and Document Legalization

The Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention) facilitates the use of public documents across countries and regions. This is sometimes known as the “Hague Apostille”. The purpose of the Convention is to abolish the traditional requirement of legalisation, replacing the often long and costly legalisation process with the issuance of a single Apostille certificate by a Competent Authority in the place where the document originates. Legalising a document is not as difficult as it seems – there are assistance available and once your document is apostilled it will be accepted by the members of Hague Conventions.

In the UK apostilles are being issued by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Developemnte Office) at the Legalisation Office and the apostille stamp is to show the document is genuine. If your document is issued by a UK Government then it can be proceed with legalisation directly, whereas if the document is issued in the UK but not by the government then it needs to be certified by a solictior/ notary public in advance.

Apart form the more common cause of legalisation, expats from the UK are sometimes required to legalise the birth certificate/ put apostille on marriage certificate. As the GRO is responsible to issue these doucments the FCDO can process legalisation on them striaght away; however, if a document is issued by other UK organisations (such a university degree) then it will needed to certify by a solicitor/ notary public, then FCO legalisation – if the legalised document is going to be used in a non-Hague Convention mmeber then it will also need to authenticated by the relevant Embassy (e.g. Chinese Embassy if use in China).

Requirements – Aspotille

Simply provide the following information and we will start to process asap:

1. Your Document(s)

Forward the documents you would like to legalise and we will review the application asap. Originals may be required and we will then as you to post/ courier/ drop off the document(s) to our office in London.

2. Your Contact Details

We’ll need some of your contact details (e.g. tel, email, name of assistant if applicable) and we will keep you updated.

3. Return Address

Let us know where you’d like to send your package to and we will get it done as soon as the process is completed.

Many thanks. The service was organised by my employer so it is their decision if we use it again. Compared to all the difficulties I encountered when I tried to do it myself, your service was amazingly straightforward.

Jonathan N. – Our business client from one of the leading UK Universities

Fees – Apostille

All fees are charged per document. Total price of your order will depend on the services you select and the number of documents. Fees charged by Legalisation.Services are per application and inclusive of VAT + FCDO’s fees. All fees are listed and charged in Pound Sterling.

FCDO ProcessingFCDO Fees Our Service Fee
(+ 20% VAT)
Subtotal – You Pay
72hrs (Standard) £35£30 + £6 = £36£71
24 hrs / Same Day (Premium)£75£50 + £10 = £60£135
Same Day SubmissionN/A£30 + £6TBA
Delivery OptionsCostDescription
Return Postage – Royal Mail Special Delivery (UK Mainland)£10Deliver your documents back to your address via Royal Mail next day Special Delivery (1pm)
Return Postage – Same Day Courier to Central LondonUpon RequestDeliver your documents back to your address via Same Day courier. Address in Central London should cost between £15 and £35, price quote upon request.
Return Postage – Same/ Next Day Courier Outside London (UK Mainland)Upon RequestDeliver your documents back to your address via Next Day National / International courier. Price quote upon request.
DHL – UK Mainland£15
Return Postage – Royal Mail Special Delivery (International)£20
DHL – International£60