If you need to use a legal document abroad, you may be asked to have it apostilled. In this blog article, we explain everything you need to know about apostilles and the process of having a document authenticated for use overseas.
What is an apostille and what is its purpose?
Apostilles were introduced by an international treaty (Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents). The apostille (or Hague apostille) is a government-issued certificate that confirms the authenticity of the signature, seal or stamp of a public official on a document. In the UK, the certificate is printed on a small piece of paper that is attached to the back of the document in question.
The purpose of the apostille is to ensure that a document issued in one country will be accepted by public authorities in another. As such, the general rule is that documents need to be apostilled in their country of origin.
For a full list of contracting parties, i.e. countries that are signed up to the apostille treaty, please click here.
How can I get my document apostilled?
In the United Kingdom, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
To be eligible to be apostilled, a document needs to bear the signature, stamp or seal of a public official, such as of one of our notaries. If in doubt, do get in touch and we will be able to further advise.
At the time of writing, the cost of the paper-based apostille for registered business users is £40 and it takes 48 hours to obtain.
Can I get an e-apostille?
Yes. In appropriate circumstances, an electronic apostille (e-apostille) may be available instead of a paper-based apostille.
Whether an e-apostille is suitable will depend on the type of document and, importantly, whether the authority or organisation receiving the document accepts electronic apostilles.
For further information on obtaining an e-apostille, please read our blog on e-notarisation and e-apostille, or contact us for further information.
Do I need notarisation before getting the apostille?
Not necessarily.
Some documents can be submitted directly to the FCDO for an apostille without being notarised first. For example, certain UK birth, marriage and death certificates, as well as ACRO police certificates, may be eligible for direct apostille.
However, the receiving country or organisation may have additional requirements and may ask for your document to be notarised before it is apostilled. For this reason, you should always check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Where notarisation is required, we can advise further and assist with the notarisation as well as the apostille process.
Contact Us
Arranging the correct authentication for an overseas document can sometimes be confusing, particularly where notarisation and legalisation requirements differ between countries.
If you need a UK document apostilled for use abroad, we can help you determine the appropriate process and assist with the necessary notarisation and apostille arrangements.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your document and find out what is required.