Sep 03, 2026

If you need to use a UK-issued document in another country, you may be asked to have the document legalised or apostilled before it will be accepted. This is commonly required for overseas employment, residency, education, marriage, business registration, property transactions and other official procedures.

In the United Kingdom, apostilles are issued through the Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The Legalisation Office checks whether the relevant signature, stamp or seal on an eligible UK document matches its records and, when the document can be legalised, issues an apostille.

However, not every document follows exactly the same process. Some documents can proceed directly to legalisation, while others may first need certification by a UK solicitor or notary. The country where the document will be used can also determine whether an apostille is the final step or additional legalisation is required.

Quickpro assists individuals and businesses with FCDO Apostille services and UK document legalisation, including personal, educational and commercial documents intended for use overseas.

What Is an FCDO Apostille?

An FCDO Apostille is an official certificate issued by the UK Legalisation Office as part of the legalisation of eligible UK documents for overseas use.

During the legalisation process, the Legalisation Office checks the relevant signature, stamp or seal on the document against its records. If the required details can be verified, the document is legalised by issuing an apostille.

An important distinction is that an apostille does not mean that the FCDO has approved all of the information contained within the underlying document. The legalisation process primarily authenticates the relevant signature, stamp or seal.

What Does FCDO Mean?

FCDO stands for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The Legalisation Office is part of the FCDO and is responsible for legalising eligible UK public documents for use overseas.

You may encounter several similar search terms when researching the process, including:

FCDO Apostille
FCDO legalisation
UK Apostille
UK document legalisation
Legalisation Office Apostille
Apostille certificate UK

These generally relate to the process of authenticating eligible UK documents so they can be presented to authorities abroad.

Why Do UK Documents Need an Apostille?

A UK certificate that is valid domestically may still require authentication before a foreign government, court, university, employer, bank or business authority will accept it.

An apostille provides an internationally recognized authentication mechanism for countries operating under the Hague Apostille Convention.

For example, legalisation may be requested when a UK document is being used for:

Overseas employment
Residency or immigration procedures
Marriage abroad
University admission
Recognition of educational qualifications
Business establishment
Opening overseas branches
Corporate transactions
Property transactions
Powers of Attorney
Court proceedings
Probate and inheritance matters

Before arranging an apostille, you should confirm the requirements with the organization requesting the document. GOV.UK specifically advises applicants to check whether the recipient needs an original or certified copy and whether a particular professional, such as a UK solicitor or notary, must sign it.

Which UK Documents Can Be Apostilled?

Many types of UK documents may be eligible for FCDO legalisation.

The UK government specifically identifies documents issued by courts, public registries, government departments and registered doctors among the documents that may be legalised. Other documents can also qualify when appropriately certified by a UK public official, such as a solicitor or notary.

Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates

Official UK civil-status certificates are commonly required overseas for:

Marriage
Family residency
Dependent applications
Inheritance
Citizenship procedures
School admissions
Other family-related matters

Birth, marriage and death certificates issued by a public registry are among the types of documents the Legalisation Office can legalise.

Degree and Educational Certificates

Educational documents may require an apostille when qualifications are being presented to an overseas employer, university, professional body or government authority.

Documents can include:

Bachelor’s degree certificates
Master’s degree certificates
PhD certificates
Diplomas
Academic transcripts
Professional qualifications
Training certificates

Depending on the document, appropriate certification may be necessary before FCDO legalisation.

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (POA) may be used overseas to authorize another person to act on behalf of an individual or company.

The UK government specifically gives a Power of Attorney as an example of a document that can be legalised after appropriate certification by a UK public official such as a notary or solicitor.

Medical Documents

Certain medical certificates signed by registered doctors may also be eligible for legalisation.

UK Company and Commercial Documents

Companies conducting business internationally may need UK corporate documents legalised.

These can include, depending on eligibility and destination requirements:

Certificate of Incorporation
Companies House documents
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Board Resolutions
Commercial Powers of Attorney
Company agreements
Shareholder documents
Corporate declarations
Other company certificates

Companies should confirm exactly which corporate documents the overseas authority requires before beginning legalisation.

How to Get an FCDO Apostille in the UK

The process varies depending on the document, but the following provides a useful general framework.

Step 1: Check the Overseas Requirement

First determine:

Which document is required
Country where it will be used
Whether the original or a certified copy is required
Whether notarisation or solicitor certification is necessary
Whether a paper or electronic apostille is accepted
Whether further embassy legalisation is required

This is important because obtaining the wrong form of certification can create unnecessary delays.

Step 2: Prepare the Document

Some official documents can be submitted based on an existing recognized signature or seal.

Other documents may first require certification by a UK solicitor or notary.

GOV.UK specifically advises applicants to check with the overseas recipient whether a particular person must sign the document before legalisation.

Step 3: Apply for FCDO Legalisation

Applications for both paper apostilles and e-Apostilles are made online.

Applicants need the documents they wish to legalise and a credit or debit card for payment. Paper applications being sent by post also require return-address details and access to a printer.

Step 4: FCDO Verification

The Legalisation Office checks whether the relevant signature, seal or stamp can be authenticated against its records.

If the requirements are satisfied, the document is legalised.

Step 5: Apostille Issued

For a paper application, the apostille is issued with the physical document and returned according to the applicable delivery arrangements.

For an e-Apostille, the legalised document is provided electronically.

Step 6: Complete Any Additional Overseas Requirements

An apostille is not necessarily the final step for every destination.

For countries where additional legalisation is required, the document may need further authentication by the destination country’s embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

GOV.UK explains that for countries outside the relevant Hague Convention framework, the process can involve FCDO legalisation, the destination country’s embassy in London, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the destination country.

Paper Apostille vs e-Apostille

A Paper Apostille is a physical apostille attached to or issued with the original or eligible certified UK document, making it suitable when an overseas authority requires a hard-copy legalised document.

An e-Apostille is issued electronically for eligible documents that meet the FCDO’s digital requirements and can be provided digitally to the receiving authority.

While an e-Apostille can offer a faster and more convenient option, not all documents are eligible and not every overseas authority accepts electronic apostilles. Before choosing between a Paper Apostille and an e-Apostille, it is important to confirm the document type, destination country and requirements of the authority where the document will be submitted.

Not every document qualifies for an e-Apostille. GOV.UK currently excludes certain documents including General Register Office birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates, as well as specified ACRO, DBS and disclosure certificates.

Therefore, always check the document and destination before choosing between a paper Apostille and e-Apostille.

How Long Does an FCDO Apostille Take?

Current government processing times vary according to the selected service.

As of September 2026, GOV.UK lists the standard paper-based service as usually taking up to 25 working days, excluding return delivery time, while an e-Apostille can take up to 2 working days. Special faster services exist for eligible registered businesses. Processing can take longer when a signature requires additional verification.

These timings can change, so current FCDO information should always be checked before submitting time-sensitive documents.

Quickpro can also help assess whether your document needs solicitor/notary certification or additional overseas processing, which should be included when estimating the complete turnaround time.

How Much Does an FCDO Apostille Cost?

The cost of obtaining an FCDO Apostille can vary depending on the type of legalisation service required, the document format, delivery method and whether any additional certification is needed before submission.

Some documents may require solicitor certification or notarisation, while documents intended for certain countries may also require further embassy or consular legalisation, translation, courier services or destination-country authentication.

As government and processing fees can change, it is advisable to confirm the current requirements and total cost based on your specific document and the country where it will be used.

Does an FCDO Apostille Expire?

An apostille itself should be distinguished from the validity of the underlying document.

An overseas authority may require a document to have been issued recently even where an older document already carries an apostille.

For example, requirements concerning company records, police certificates or other time-sensitive documents may specify how recent the underlying document must be.

Always check the receiving authority’s current requirements before relying on an older apostilled document.

Can a Photocopy Be Apostilled?

In some circumstances, a copy can be legalised if it has been appropriately certified.

GOV.UK specifically lists copies of documents such as passports and driving licences as examples of documents that may be legalised after certification by a UK public official.

However, whether a certified copy is acceptable ultimately depends on the document and the overseas authority requesting it.

Can a Foreign-Issued Document Get an FCDO Apostille?

Generally, the UK FCDO service is for eligible UK documents.

GOV.UK explicitly states that documents issued outside the UK cannot simply be legalised through the UK service and advises users to arrange legalisation in the country where the document was issued.

If the situation involves a foreign document combined with a UK notarial act or certification, the precise requirement should be assessed before proceeding.

FCDO Apostille for Documents Going to the UAE

UK documents intended for use in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE can require additional authentication beyond the initial UK stage, depending on the document and intended use.

This is a separate search intent from simply obtaining an FCDO Apostille and is better handled through a dedicated UK Document Attestation for UAE service guide.

This SEO separation is important: this page focuses on FCDO Apostille and UK document legalisation, while the UAE page should focus on the full UK document → FCDO → UAE attestation/MOFA pathway.

Do Apostilled Documents Need Translation?

Possibly.

An apostille and a translation perform different functions.

The apostille authenticates the relevant signature, seal or stamp, whereas a translation converts the content into a language accepted by the receiving authority.

Depending on the destination, you may therefore need:

UK Document → FCDO Apostille → Certified/Legal Translation → Additional destination-country processing

The translation requirements should always be confirmed with the authority receiving the document.

Common Reasons for FCDO Legalisation Delays

Problems can arise when:

The wrong document is submitted
Required certification is missing
A signature cannot immediately be verified
The document requires solicitor/notary certification
The recipient requires an original rather than a copy
An e-Apostille is selected for an ineligible document
The applicant assumes an apostille is sufficient for the destination country
Further embassy legalisation has not been considered

Checking the complete process before submission can help avoid having to restart the legalisation procedure.

Why Choose Quickpro for FCDO Apostille Services?

Managing document legalisation can become complicated when a document needs multiple certifications or must travel through several authorities.

Quickpro provides assistance with:

FCDO Apostille services
UK document legalisation
Birth and marriage certificate apostille
Degree certificate legalisation
Commercial document legalisation
Certificate of Incorporation apostille
Power of Attorney legalisation
Solicitor/notary coordination where required
Embassy and Consulate attestation
MOFA attestation coordination where applicable
Certified and legal translation
International document processing support

The appropriate procedure is determined according to the document type, country of issue, destination country and purpose of use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an FCDO Apostille?

An FCDO Apostille is issued through the UK Legalisation Office after it verifies the relevant signature, stamp or seal on an eligible UK document. The apostille helps prepare the document for official use overseas.

How do I get an Apostille in the UK?

Applications are made online through the UK government’s legalisation service. Depending on the document, you can apply for a paper Apostille or eligible e-Apostille.

How much is an FCDO Apostille?

As of September 2026, the standard paper service costs £45 per document, while an e-Apostille costs £35 per document. Additional courier, certification or other legalisation costs may apply.

How long does an FCDO Apostille take?

The current standard paper service is listed as usually taking up to 25 working days, plus delivery time. Eligible e-Apostilles are listed as taking up to 2 working days.

Can Quickpro assist with FCDO legalisation?

Yes. Quickpro can assist with document assessment, FCDO Apostille processing and coordination of additional certification, translation or destination-specific legalisation where required.

Get Your UK Documents Apostilled with Quickpro

Whether you need to legalise a UK birth certificate, marriage certificate, degree, Power of Attorney, Certificate of Incorporation or another eligible personal or commercial document, it is important to identify the correct process before submission.

Send Quickpro a copy of your document along with the country where it will be used and its intended purpose. The appropriate route can then be assessed, including whether the document needs prior certification, an FCDO Apostille, translation or further embassy and foreign-ministry legalisation.

Quickpro – professional assistance for FCDO Apostille and UK document legalisation for use abroad.

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