Need apostille services in London? Different countries need different levels of notarisation or legalisation for documents.
Before sending it abroad, your UK document may need the following London legalisation services:
- Notarisation by a Notary Public OR Apostille by the FCO
- Notarisation by a Notary Public AND Apostille by the FCO
- Notarisation by a Notary Public AND Apostille by the FCO, THEN Consular Legalisation
If you’re sending documents abroad, such as a UK certificate, notarisation may not be enough. Many documents need further apostille legalisation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London. This is done by fixing an apostille stamp to the document or certificate, which verifies the notary’s authority, signature and seal.
We offer professional apostille services in London in the UK. Our notaries in Saint Pancras, Battersea and Harrow can guide you through and help streamline the complex process of gaining an apostille stamp for your documents.
Some documents – such as marriage certificates – can be apostilled directly at the London legalisation office, without the need for notarisation beforehand. Some will need even further legalisation by the consulate of the destination country. We offer both apostille services and a consular legalisation service via the country’s embassy.
Thinking of getting documents apostilled in the UK? Call our London team on 0208 907 2699 or read our FAQs here.
London Legalisation Services at the FCO
If you need to apostille a certificate or UK document for use abroad, we can arrange this for you. We’ll send them off to the legalisation office in London straight after we notarise them, offering you a fast legalisation service.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London (known as the FCO) will affix an apostille stamp to your document, verifying that we are qualified to notarise it. Some UK-issued documents such as marriage certificates and birth certificates can be apostilled without the need for notarisation first.
Consular Legalisation by Embassy or Consulate
Thinking of getting documents apostilled to send outside of the UK?
If you’re sending notarised business or personal documents to a country outside the Hague Convention, you will likely need a further stage of legalisation.
Particularly with the impact of Brexit on UK businesses – you may have more paperwork to provide.
The notarised and apostilled document must be submitted to your destination country’s consulate or embassy – who will verify the authenticity of the FCO’s apostille certificate. We can arrange this for you, through our efficient team of consular agents.
Find out more about the differences between notarisation and legalisation.
“So, if you're from abroad and you have to legalize/notarize your documents from the UK since they were issued there, I can't recommend these guys enough. They're fast, cooperative and professional. I was really impressed by their service. I've also found that they're quite reasonably priced.”
— Hashim Z
Why use MSC Notaries to help apostille or legalise UK documents?
- We have both FCO and consular agents on hand to clarify the requirements of your case
- You can rely on us to be up to date with the latest international regulations overseas
- Our apostille service is based in Central London – less than half an hour away from the FCO
- We offer friendly, upfront advice about your documents and highly competitive fees
- Our Harrow (North London) notary office stays open evenings and on Saturdays
- We offer an efficient apostille stamp service with a quick turnaround of your documents and always aim to suit your require timeframes where possible
- We pride ourselves on our outstanding level of customer service and glowing customer reviews and keep our clients informed at every stage of the process
How long does getting documents apostilled in the UK take?
Getting a UK document apostilled at a legalisation office in London can be completed on the same day. Consular legalisation services take longer, depending on the country’s embassy or consulate. We can give you an accurate timescale for your case – email us on info@mscnotaries.com for more information about our apostille service in London.
We also offer a mobile notary service and document translation service, if you need these services before getting your documents apostilled in the UK.
Book London legalisation services on 0208 907 2699
FAQs
What does apostille service mean?
Apostille services are otherwise referred to as document legalisation, the process involved in making sure your documents are legalised for use outside the country of issue. Apostille services in London allow you to work with professionals who will handle the process of obtaining an apostille stamp from the FCO for your UK documents.
The benefits of using apostille services are that you are likely to obtain your apostille seal far more efficiently without the hassle of carrying out the process yourself, as well as peace of mind that your documents are legalised in the appropriate way for the country you plan to use them in.
What is an apostille stamp?
An apostille stamp or seal formally referred to as a Hague Apostille, is an official certificate issued by the FCO, legalising and attesting to the use of a document in another country. The apostille stamp is a certificate attached to your document that certifies the signature of a public officer on the document including any solicitor, notary public, or government official.
How do I get something apostilled in the UK?
To have a document apostilled and legalised, they have to be submitted to the Legalisation Office, which will check the document signatures, stamps and seals and approve them against their records. Once approved, your document(s) will have an apostille certificate attached. In some instances, a document may also need a signature from a notary or solicitor before they can be legalised.
To make sure the process of obtaining an apostille is as efficient and streamlined as possible, you can work with professionals who will handle the entire process of notarising and obtaining an apostille for your documents. Enquire with MSC Notaries today for a free, quick quote.
Who can apostille a document?
Apostille certificates must be provided by the UK Government, which means the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office is the only authority in the UK that is able to issue apostilles for your personal or business documents. Our team are able to help you with the process of obtaining an apostille certificate in short timeframes and ensure your documents are legalised correctly without hassle.