How do I get a document legalised (apostille) in the UK?

What legalisation means

Legalisation is an official check on a UK document so it can be used abroad. The Legalisation Office looks at the signature, stamp or seal on your document. If it matches their own records, they attach an "apostille". This is a stamped official certificate.

You might need this if an official in another country has asked for a UK document and said it must be legalised.

Which documents can be legalised

You can usually legalise:

• court documents with a wet ink seal
• certificates from a public registry, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, or Companies House documents
• documents signed by an official of a government department
• medical certificates signed by a registered doctor
• documents certified by a UK solicitor or notary, such as powers of attorney, contracts, qualification certificates and certified copies

You cannot legalise a document issued outside the UK. It must be legalised in the country it came from.

Check first. Ask the person who wants the legalised document whether they need the original or a certified copy. Some documents must be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before you send them.

How much it costs

For paper apostilles, you also pay to get the documents back. Courier costs are £6 per 1.5kg in the UK, £32 per 1.5kg to most European countries and £42 per 1.5kg to the rest of the world. Or you can send an A4 envelope addressed to a UK address, with enough UK stamps to cover the postage.

Example: you need 3 documents legalised on paper and returned by UK courier. That is 3 x £45 = £135, plus £6 courier, so £141 in total. If all 3 could be done as e-Apostilles instead, it would be 3 x £35 = £105.

e-Apostilles

An e-Apostille is a digital version. You are emailed when it is ready. You can download it more than once and share it digitally.

You cannot get an e-Apostille for:

• birth, death, marriage, civil partnership or adoption certificates, or any other General Register Office document
• ACRO police certificates
• DBS certificates and disclosure certificates

How to apply

1. Check which documents the other country needs, and whether they need certifying first.
2. Have your documents and a debit or credit card ready.
3. Apply online and pay.
4. For a paper apostille, you will be told how to send in your documents. Give the address you want them sent back to.
5. Paper documents come back by courier or post. For an e-Apostille, you get an email when it is ready.

Legalised documents cannot currently be returned to Russia, Ukraine or Belarus.

Related guides

• How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
• How do I get a copy of my marriage certificate?
• How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
• Can I become a British citizen?

Where this comes from

• Get your document legalised: overview, fees and times
• Get your document legalised: apply