Which Documents?
We can issue the apostille certificate on almost all UK documents. There are very few exceptions. If your document contains an original signature, seal or stamp from a UK practising public organisation or official government body then we can process it. We can also assist with solicitor certification of your document.
We can legalise original documents and photocopies of certain types of document as long as they have been certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary. Our solicitor can certify your document too if necessary. The following list is just a sample of the type of documents we handle-
UK Educational Certificates, Diplomas, Awards, Letters, Transcripts, Reports, etc.
Birth, marriage, death certificates
Civil partnership certificates
Certificates of No Impediment
‘No Trace’ letters issued by the GRO
Passports – UK and International
Deed Polls
UK court documents
Decree Absolute and Decree Nisi papers
Powers of attorney,
Last will and Testament
Affidavits, declarations and notarial acts
Certificates of Incorporation
Certificates of Company Name Change
Certificates of Good Standing
Companies House documents
Contracts and Agreements
Export certificates
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) documents and letters
National identification Certificates (NIC)
Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) certificates
Disclosures (inc Disclosure Scotland)
Criminal Record Checks
Foreign language translations
We can issue the apostille certificate on 99% of UK documents. There are a few basic rules that apply to handling your documents but we take of everything for you. However, for your information the following notes may be of benefit.
Notes relating to the processing of certain documents are detailed below.
When processing academic documents we may need to verify the origin of the document. This may require using several institutes and organisations to check the document-
‘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 birth, death or marriage certificates or certified copies issued by the General Registry Office (GRO) or local Registry Offices in the UK. The apostille stamp will be attached directly to the certificate. We cannot issue the apostille on a photocopy, even if certified by a solicitor.
Original Certificate of No Impediment and General Registry 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 certified by a UK solicitor.
We cannot issue the apostille on original passports of any nationality. It is standard practice to issue the apostille on photocopies of the relevant data page of British and foreign passports. We will arrange for a UK solicitor to produce true photocopies of the original if you have not organised this already.
Original papers issued by UK courts and photocopies can be apostilled. Photocopies of these will need to certified by a practising UK solicitor or notary public before the apostille is attached. Our solicitor can certify this for you.
Many Companies House documents need to be 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. Our solicitor can certify these for you.
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 need further embassy legalisation of your documents please contact us for advice and current prices.
This list of advice is by no means exhaustive, please contact the Apostille Certificate Service if your document is not listed here or you need further information.