Get in touch with our notary public in London if you need any services regarding the official certification of documents. In addition, you can also rely on the services of our experienced team members if you need any information about how to get an apostille in UK.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is an apostille? | A legal act that certifies the validity of a document issued in a foreign country. |
|
The office that provides an apostille certificate in UK |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
|
Which documents can be apostilled in London? |
– birth, marriage and death certificates, – divorce decrees, – court documents etc. |
| Countries that recognize the apostilled documents | The countries signatory to the Hague convention |
| How many countries are signatory to the Hague convention? |
60 countries |
| Why is an apostille in London required? |
An apostille in London is a certificate that authenticates public documents and adds another degree of security. |
| Where cannot an individual use apostilled document? |
An apostille can never be used in the country where it was issued. |
| Role of a UK notary |
A UK notary attests the authenticity of deeds for use overseas. |
| How long does it take to get an apostille in London? |
1-2 days |
| Standard apostille fee set by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in UK | GBP30 |
| Information an apostille should bear |
– the authority issuing the certificate; – the name of the country from which the document originates; – the name of the person signing the document; – the place and date of certification; – the signature of the authority issuing the certificate etc. |
| Does the apostille document has an expiry date? (Yes/No) |
No |
| How can you get an apostille from a UK notary? |
Contact our notary |
| Electronic apostille services available (Yes/No) |
Yes |
| UK notary caters local and international clients (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Apostille required for company documents | For international business expansion to register legal entities and carry out transactions in foreign markets |
|
Notarization before apostille |
Most documents require notarization in the first place. |
|
Legalizing papers in the UK for overseas use |
With the Hague apostille, we provide through our notary public in London |
| Multiple documents for legalization and apostille | We provide complete services, regardless of the number of documents you need for legalization and apostille. |
| Can an apostille be verified online? |
Yes, the apostilled document has a unique number that can be verified. |
| Fast notarization and apostille services |
Urgent apostille services for a specific fee |
| Online payment available (YES/NO) |
YES |
| The type of documents solicited for apostille |
Only the original ones |
| Secure delivery |
We offer UK and overseas delivery options in a safe manner. |
| Same-day notary services | Available option at a specific price |
| Scan copies of documents |
On request |
| Consultation before choosing the right notary services in the UK |
We explain to customers the type of notarization services we offer, according to their needs. |
| Apostille services in Canary Wharf (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Do I need an appointment to obtain an apostilled document? |
Yes, we work on an appointment basis. |
| Why choose our public notary in London? | We offer complete notary services at affordable prices, fast issuance of documents, and more. |
Table of Contents
Where can people use apostilled documents?
An individual can never use apostilled documents in the country where they were issued. The purpose of an apostille certificate is to validate the origin of a birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, judgment, or any other document that requires official authentication. Our skilled team members can effectively provide notary services in London in this regard. An individual can acquire apostilles for documents issued in one state party of the apostille treaty. However, those documents need to be used in other states that are also party to the same convention. Even the countries that are not members of the apostille treaty still require notarization.
You can trust the services of our team regarding their apostille services in London. They can provide you with an apostille for documents in London as per your need.
Here is an infographic with the main documents that can be apostilled in the UK, with the help of our specialists at notary public in London:
Which documents need to be apostilled in UK?
Most nations require an apostille when mailing documents abroad. The following is a list of the most typical documents that require an apostille:
- Personal or professional powers of attorney;
- Affidavit;
- Certificates of birth/death;
- Medical certificates;
- Marriage certificates;
- House records of a company;
- A statement of good standing;
- Academic credentials granted in the UK;
- Pet registration;
- Legal declarations;
- Certificates of no obstruction.
Before they are apostilled, many of these documents must first be notarized. Some documents, however, can simply be apostilled without needing to be notarized. If you need to learn about such documents, the members of our UK notary can help you. Our agents can also provide you with detailed information regarding our apostille services in UK.
You are invited to watch a video presentation about apostille services we offer in London:
Hague apostilles in UK
A registered apostille service, the Hague apostille, makes it easier to legalize UK papers for using them abroad. You can save time and money by using our apostille service to legalize papers. An embossed seal from the UK’s apostille of the Hague certifies a public document’s authenticity (e.g. a birth, marriage, or death certificate, court, business, notarial attestation, or personal documents: passport, ID card, and diploma). Only papers produced by a nation party of the apostille convention and intended for use in another nation that is also a party to the convention are eligible for a Hague apostille in UK.
You are welcome to get a consultation from our UK notary if you want to know whether the country you intend to use your apostilled documents is a party to the convention. It does not matter if the answer is yes or no, our UK notary members can still guide you about the procedure of using your documents abroad accordingly. Our team members can also help you understand the details about apostille in UK. So, you are welcome to get in touch with our notary if you need any apostille services in UK.
Apostille convention 1961
Public documents can be used internationally according to the convention of October 5, 1961, abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (HCCH 1961 Apostille Convention). The convention aims to do away with the customary requirement of legalization by replacing the frequently time-consuming and expensive legalization process with the granting of a single apostille certificate by a competent authority in the origin country. To support the electronic issue and verification of apostilles globally, the electronic apostille program (e-APP) was introduced in 2006. With more than 120 contracting parties, the convention is one of the most commonly used multilateral agreements in the field of legal cooperation, with millions of apostilles being granted annually. Get in touch with our UK notary if you need more information about convention and our apostille services in the UK.
Authentication of an apostilled document
The apostille will always be issued in the respective country’s official language. However, ten pieces of information are uniform throughout all apostilles, ensuring that anybody may get the information they need regardless of language. To prevent an apostille from being withdrawn from one document and affixed to another, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) embosses or “carefully prepares” the apostille and the document together in the UK. They also have a unique serial number that may be checked on the issuing government’s official website.
For further information in this regard, you are welcome to get in touch with our members of the notary public in London. They will provide you with comprehensive guidance about the rules and regulations of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office located in the United Kingdom.
Purpose of an apostilled agreement
The apostilled agreement was created to simplify paperwork operations between member nations for everyone born, married, educated, or dealt with any other personal or corporate documents. The agreement, which went into force in 1965, has 116 signatories now. Apostille is a unique seal given to official papers that allows them to be used in the jurisdiction of another country. All nations ratifying the Hague Convention of October 5th, 1961 accept documents bearing the “apostille” seal. The 1961 Hague Convention is an international treaty that eliminates the need for consular legalization of foreign official papers in the nation’s signatories of the treaty.
It is important to note that just because a country is a Hague member does not mean it is a signatory of the apostille agreement; it is part of a more extensive set of private international rules and conventions.
How are documents apostilled in UK?
Only the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is authorized to issue apostilles in the United Kingdom. Anyone can apply for a stamp. However, the general public can only do so through their local postal office. You will need to employ an apostille service through an agent who is registered to attend the FCDO in person for same-day processing if you need this turned around quickly. Our notary can provide you with efficient services to get an apostille in London.
The laws governing their issuance in various nations differ. Some countries, for example, enable local government officials and courts to issue apostilles. In the United States, they are managed by each state. To avoid delays or rejections, it is essential to get the counsel of someone who specializes in this field to guarantee that your document’s legalization is done appropriately.
There are several laws and regulations in legalization, many of which are subject to change regularly and without notice. You can be confident that there will be no issues with processing if you choose our notary services in London.
Apostille costs in UK
If you need an idea of the estimated costs for getting your documents apostilled in UK, you can get in touch with our team members. However, you can also find here the general costs of getting an apostille in UK. The standard service costs £30 per document plus courier or postage expenses. If you want to get the document in another nation, the cost of the courier will be between £15 and £20, and within UK it will be £5. The related service by our UK notary is likewise delivered digitally in London and the United Kingdom overall. Be sure you have the papers you wish to be legalized, a credit or debit card to make a purchase, the location where you want your documents to be returned.
Details on an apostilled document
Here is information that is provided on an apostilled document. An apostille should bear:
- The name of the state which issues it;
- The surname of the person who signed the apostille-certified document;
- The apostille attestation of the signature of the person who signed the document;
- The organization’s name whose seal or stamp was used to affix the apostille-certified document;
- The name of the city where the apostille is issued;
- Date of apostille affixation;
- The apostille’s affixing authority’s name;
- The number of the apostille;
- The institution’s seal or stamp for affixing an apostille;
- Apostille official’s signature.
You can rely on the services of our notary if you need an apostille in London. Our efficient team members can provide you with all kinds of notary services in London.
Validity of an apostilled document
The date of issue appears on apostilled certificates. In section 6 of the certificate, it is plainly stated the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Apostille merely contains a date of issuance. Once physically affixed to a document, it has no expiration date. When a certificate receives an apostille, it should always be valid for use in countries that recognize it. On the other hand, some organizations may require that the apostille be granted within a specific time frame.
In most cases, an apostille can be used at any time after it is issued. Nevertheless, a current apostille on a document may be required in specific cases. A criminal background check is one example. Your criminal background check apostille may be requested by a potential employer or immigration authority if they are less than 3 or 6 months old. This is acceptable because a criminal background check must be current.
The certificate of no obstacle is another document that should have received an apostille within the past 3 to 6 months. For further details regarding apostilles, you can get information from our notary public in London.
How can you get your documents apostilled in London?
You can get an apostille in London without putting a lot of hassle. To avoid any inconvenience and obtain fast apostille services, you are recommended to interact with our notary in London. To get their services, you only need:
- The documents which need an apostille certification;
- A debit or credit card for payment;
- The address where you want your documents dispatched.
Once you submit your documents for apostille in London, you need to wait for at least ten working days for processing. If you need any documents to be notarized in Canary Wharf, our experienced team members can also provide you with notary public services there.
Execute your overseas business with the help of our UK notary
To help you apostille your UK documents for use abroad and obtain embassy attestation, our UK notary offers quick services. Foreign governments and organizations typically ask for the apostille certificate so that the document can be used for official purposes outside of the UK. Moreover, several nations want that you get your documents certified by their embassy in the UK. Our notary offers a full legalization service for all documents issued in the UK.
You might have never heard of an apostille certificate before. An apostille certificate is only ever necessary if your transactions require official papers and take place outside of the UK. Apostilles are needed for professional, commercial, legal, and private purposes. The most frequent reasons for obtaining an apostille certificate include international property acquisitions, business transactions, overseas weddings, registering births, working or teaching abroad, and overseas real estate purchases.
The staff at our London notary public can provide you with more information and assist you in quickly obtaining the apostille certificate and stamp from the appropriate government office. The process of getting a UK apostille certificate added to your document usually only takes 24 hours. Our UK notary public in London takes pride in providing a professional service that guarantees your document is legalized properly. A document can be legalized in several ways, but often only one of those ways will be recognized by the nation the document is meant for. So, get in touch with our notary in London if you need detailed assistance regarding getting apostilled documents in UK.
Our notary services in London
If you want to use your business or personal documents in a foreign state, you may need apostille services in London. The level of legalization of documents varies from country to country, so your documents may have to go through any of these different levels of notarization:
- The first level of document legalization comprises either apostille by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or notarization by a notary in London. You are welcome to obtain the services of our team members regarding apostille services in London;
- The second kind of legalizing documents consists of both apostille by the FCO and notarization by our team, which provides notary services in London;
- The third level of legalizing documents requires an apostille by the FCO, notarization by a public notary in London, and then embassy legalization.
When notarization alone is not enough, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office legalizes the document by fixing a stamp. This apostille stamp in London verifies the seal, signature, and authority. Therefore, if you want to send some documents abroad and need information regarding which level of document legalization implies on your paperwork, you can get our notary services in London. Our skilled members at the legalization office in London will guide you accordingly.
Besides acquiring an apostille in London, you are also welcome to interact with our notary members to get details regarding the fee structure of notary services in London.
Apostille issuance statistics in UK (2018-2020)
The imposition of travel restrictions in the whole world due to the outspread of covid-19 has reduced the number of apostilles requested in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019. But still keeping in view the travel restrictions, the statistics of apostilles requested in 2020 were not drastically low. Please find below the statistical data of apostilles requested in the UK:
- In 2018, the number of apostilles issued by the FCO was 558,264;
- In 2019, the FCO issued 535,724 apostilles;
- In 2020, due to worldwide lockdown and travel restrictions, the apostilles issued to the applicants were reduced to 397,818.
Contact our team members to obtain their apostille services in London. You can also rely on the benefits of our team if you need to learn how to acquire a notary affidavit in London.
