Documents we can legalise

You can get certain official UK documents ‘legalised’ by submitting them to us.

You might need to do this if an official in another country has asked you to provide a UK document and they’ve said it must be legalised.

The Legalisation Office will check the document and see if any signatures, stamps or seals match their own records. If they do match, they’ll legalise the document by attaching an ‘apostille’ (stamped official certificate).

You can get a UK document with the signature, stamp or seal of a UK public official legalised. You may need to send your document in a particular format eg an original not a photocopy

Education Certificates

For legalization, make sure all education certificates are certified and dated by a UK solicitor, notary public, or an official from the British Council. If you opt for British Council certification, it must be for an original educational qualification certificate. As availability may vary, we recommend confirming with your local British Council office.

Photocopies

Ensure that any photocopies of documents for legalization are certified by a UK solicitor or notary public. However, please note that the FCDO does not accept photocopies of UK birth, death, marriage, civil partnership, or adoption certificates. Additionally, photocopies of police or disclosure certificates issued by ACRO, Disclosure Scotland, Access NI, or DBS are also not accepted under any circumstances

Medical Documents

When submitting a document signed by a medical practitioner, it's important to include their contact details, such as an email address, within the document. This allows the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) to verify their signature. Additionally, ensure that the medical practitioner is registered with the FCDO for the verification process.

Marriage Certificates

When submitting an original marriage certificate signed by a Minister of Religion or an Authorised Person, please include contact details for the signatory or the location of the ceremony, including an email address. This is crucial for the FCDO to verify the signature, if needed.

A printout of electronic documents

Ensure that any printouts of electronic documents, derived from the original PDF or other electronic formats, are certified by UK solicitor or notary public in the UK.