Sending documents abroad to a Non-Hague country? You will need a further stage of legalisation on top of notarisation and apostille by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, directly from the country’s embassy or consulate.
Click here for a full list of countries signed up to the Hague Convention
If your destination country is on this list, your document will probably need one of the below:
- Notarisation by a Notary AND Apostille by the FCO in London, THEN Consular Legalisation
- JUST Apostille by the FCO, THEN Consular Legalisation (some UK certificates)
Just as an apostille stamp from the FCO verifies a notary’s signature, consular legalisation is needed to verify a apostille. Otherwise, the notarised document or certificate may not be accepted by the receiving country. Choosing to do this all in one streamlined process, through our notary, can save you money, time and stress.
Unsure what stages of legalisation your document needs? Read this article about the differences between notarisation, apostille and consular legalisation.
We can arrange consular services in the UK for you. Call us on 0208 907 2699 or email info@mscnotaries.com.
How Our Process Works
We handle the entire document legalisation process from start to finish, including notarisation, apostille, and consular legalisation, so you don’t have to deal with multiple providers or embassy bureaucracy.
Here’s how it works:
Initial Review
Send us a scan or photo of your documents by email. We’ll check them and confirm exactly what legalisation steps are required, whether that’s just an apostille or full consular legalisation.
Document Submission
Once confirmed, you can either visit our office for notarisation or send your original documents to us by post or courier. We’ll let you know if anything else is required, such as translations or supporting paperwork.
Apostille Legalisation
We submit your documents to the FCDO for an apostille, a stamp that certifies the notary’s signature and seal. This is the first legalisation stage for most documents being sent abroad.
Consular Legalisation
If your destination country requires it, we’ll handle the next step: presenting the apostilled document to the relevant embassy or consulate for final consular legalisation.
We work with a wide range of embassies in London, including the UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Kuwait, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar.
Secure Return of Your Legalised Documents
Once completed, we’ll return your fully legalised documents to you via secure tracked delivery, or you can collect them in person if preferred.
We manage the process from start to finish, saving you time, stress, and the risk of delays.
If you need help legalising documents for international use, get in touch, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.
Countries That Commonly Require Consular Legalisation
Some countries require your documents to go through consular legalisation, even after they’ve been notarised and issued with an apostille. This is typically the case for non-Hague Convention countries, where an apostille alone isn’t accepted.
We frequently assist clients with legalising documents for the following countries:
United Arab Emirates (UAE) – often required for employment, business, and residency visas
Ethiopia– usually requested for work permits, academic qualifications, and corporate documents
Qatar – commonly requested for degree certificates, medical reports, and commercial paperwork
Vietnam – required for both personal and business-related documents
Egypt – typically needed for powers of attorney, legal contracts, and personal certificates
Kuwait – especially for legal and academic documentation
Thailand– frequent consular legalisation requests for commercial and public documents
For a full list of non-Hague countries that may require consular legalisation, see near the top of this page.
If you’re unsure what your destination country requires, feel free to get in touch; our team is always happy to advise.
How can MSC Notaries help me with consular legalisation?
We have a team of specialist consular agents who can clarify the requirements of your case, and give you an accurate timescale.
Our experienced team are up to speed with foreign law, so you can send documents overseas with confidence. Our handy Central London location means we get to embassies and consulates fast.
If you need to send an attested degree to China, UAE or anywhere else, we can organise the whole process. Doing notarisation, apostille and consular legalisation all in one will save you time, stress and money.
How long does legalisation from an Embassy or Consulate take?
The timescale, cost and fees will depend on which embassy you need. We can give you an upfront estimate of how long the process will take and how much it will cost. Our central location is near to Euston, King’s Cross and London St Pancras station – ideal for international travel and convenient for our city clients.
Our Harrow (North London) office stays open Saturdays and weeknights, so we’re ready to answer your urgent queries about consular services in the UK.
Consular Services & Document Legalisation FAQs
How much does consular legalisation cost?
The cost of consular legalisation varies depending on:
- The country the document is for
- The type of document (personal, academic, commercial)
- The number of documents
- Standard or expedited processing
Each embassy or consulate has their own fees and some may require translations or extra steps which can add to the cost.
At MSC Notaries, we try to make the document legalisation process as transparent as possible. Once you send us a scan or details of your document(s) we’ll let you know exactly what’s required and give you a clear quote, no hidden costs.
How long does consular legalisation take?
The timescale for consular legalisation depends on the country and the specific embassy or consulate involved. On average, the process takes between 5 and 10 working days, but this can vary significantly:
- Some embassies offer same-day or next-day services (usually for an additional fee)
- Others may take up to two weeks or longer, particularly if additional checks or translations are required
We’ll always confirm the expected turnaround before starting the process, and we’ll advise on the fastest available option for your documents. Wherever possible, we keep the process transparent, so you’re not left chasing updates.