Apostille

An Apostille is an official government issued certificate added to documents so they will be recognised when presented in another country. In the UK, an Apostille can be obtained from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO will only issue an Apostille if the document has been notarised by a practising English or Welsh Notary Public.
For countries which are party to the Hague Convention, the notary’s certificate and seal will require legalisation by the UK government via the FCDO. The certificate that is affixed by the FCDO is known as an apostille. There are currently 83 Members: 82 States and 1 Regional Economic Integration Organisation (the European Union) that are members. A current list can be found at the end of this document.
How much does it cost?
STANDARD SERVICE
This service usually takes 5 to 15 working days from the date the document(s) is/are received by the FCDO (subject to FCDO and Post).
FCDO Standard Legalisation Fee | £45.00 | KB Notary Public Fee for organising Apostille | £35.00 |
Postage | £20.00 |
TOTAL | £100.00 |
FAST TRACK SERVICE
This service takes between 2 to 5 working days from the time the FCDO receive the document(s) as we need to use an agent to take the document to Milton Keynes.
FCDO Standard Legalisation Fee | £40.00 | KB Notary Public Fee for organising Apostille | £140.00 |
Postage | £20.00 |
TOTAL | £200.00 |
NB
- Further fees payable if Consular Legalisation is required in addition to the Apostille
- Please note the apostille may take longer than anticipated and the above timescales are for guideline only purposes
- If you require documents sent internationally via DHL please advise and will be happy to quote.
Not all countries accept apostilles
If the country you need to send documents to is not listed above, consular legalisation at the relevant embassy, consulate, or high commission may also be required. This depends on the requirements of the country the document will be sent to. Some countries require the document to be legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office first and then their country’s embassy, consulate or high commission.
Find an embassy
KB Notary Public can assist you in legalising your documents at your desired embassy or consulate.
We have a dedicated team of consular liaison experts who will oversee the delivery of your documents to your consulate/embassy.
We have compiled a list of embassies from the Government’s website for your convenience.
Embassies inside London, United Kingdom (Source gov.uk)
Embassies outside London, United Kingdom (Source gov.uk)
Need advice on apostilles and embassy legalisation?
If you are unsure about the legalisation requirements for your document, you can always ask our experts. We can discuss your legalisation requirements with you and provide the most cost-effective approach for getting your documents notarised and legalised. We aim to give you a clear understanding of the requirements for legalisation and apostille services in the UK, and the fees in your initial consultation, so that there are no surprise costs later.
List of countries under Hague Convention