UK Document Legalisation: All There Is To Know. Document legalisation is the procedure of attaching an apostille to a UK document so it will be recognised when presented in another country. An apostille is a stamped official certificate showing that a governmental body has legalised your documents. The legalisation of a document verifies that the original ink signature of the UK public official or the original embossed seal/ink stamp of a UK public office on the document is genuine. If you want to learn more about legalising a document in the UK, you should keep reading!
How Do I Legalise A Document UK? You may decide to use your UK documents overseas for business or personal reasons. However, depending on the documents, you may need to legalise them before using them. Since a government official signs most UK public documents, they include a seal or stamp from relevant authorities. The Legalisation Office checks the document to confirm that a UK public official's signature, seal or stamp on the document is genuine. If everything goes smoothly, they will legalise the document by attaching an apostille to it. However, before we even submit a document to be legalised, we have to ensure the following is in place: ❖ We have to check to ensure that the document is complete-meaning, all document pages are there, and none is missing. Also, note that if the document refers to another, you must include the referenced documents. ❖ If you perhaps need a more up-to-date apostille (that means you previously have had an apostille attached to your document), do not remove the old apostille. ❖ You may include photocopies of previously issued apostilles in your document. The FCDO will not reject the document. So far, there is no reproduction of the signature or seal/stamp, and there has been no clear evidence of tampering or alterations.
Who Can Legalise A Document In The UK? The FCDO - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the sole government entity that can legalise a document in the UK. Here are a few guidelines that the FCDO works by: ❖ If your document has an illegible seal, the FCDO may decide to reject the document. ❖ If your document has an original overseas apostille attached, the FCDO can only issue an apostille, if the date of the additional action carried out in the UK is after the date on the overseas apostille ❖ Suppose your document has more than two certifications. In that case, the FCDO will go with the certification from the highest authority or the most recent. You can submit documents to the FCDO in the following formats: i.
ii. iii. iv.
Original Copy of Documents (the copy generated by the issuing authority and handed to you.) This document will most likely be printed on watermarked paper, an embossed hologram or seal, or an original signature. Photocopy of the original document Scanned copy of the original document A PDF or Electronic Document (you get this copy via email directly from FCDO, or you can download it directly from the website.) The document may or may not contain an electronic signature or seal. It must be certified by a Solicitor or UK Notary if it doesn't have a signature or seal. However, if it is a business document, an official from the Chamber of Commerce can certify it.
Suppose a notary in England and Wales provides the cover sheet. In that case, the underlying documents must be securely bound to the cover sheet as follows: • • • •
Metal Rivets (with a legal corner or ribbon/string) Book bound Notarial Seal you attached with a ribbon or string Staple with the notarial seal over/under both sides of the staple.
The following are unacceptable: • • •
Paper Clips Staples, with or without a legal corner Ribbon or string through a hole punch
What Documents Can We Legalise? Although apostilles are similar, this doesn't mean that all documents are processed similarly. Here are the different types of documents we can legalise and how to go about it.
➢ Standard Documents: Documents such as birth, marriage, death, adoption certificate, court documents and probates, deeds and wills, documents signed by your Solicitor or Notary, and many others are Standard documents. Since these documents are issued by a recognised authority and carry a stamp or signature from government officials, apostilles can be issued without further certification.
➢ Company/Business Documents: Documents under this category include Certificates of a Name change, certificates of incorporation, bank letters, partnership agreements and documents, certificates of good standing, etc. A vast majority of these documents must be certified by a solicitor before any government official can issue an apostille. This will likely be after their solicitor has checked and approved the documents.
➢ Personal Documents: This includes degrees, professional qualifications, training and membership certificates, driving licences, passports, utility bills, proof of address, etc. Some of these documents likely incur extra charges because a solicitor must check them and create a certified cover sheet.
➢ Bound Sets Of Documents: A bound set document is a great way to reduce the cost of legalising the documents. Some documents can be legally bound together and can have just one apostille. Examples include company documents, academic certificates, school reports, etc. A document must relate to one entity - a person or a company- to be legally bound. They must also be suitable with authority issuing the apostille. Knowing that you cannot include government documents like birth, marriage, death certificates, or criminal records within a set is vital. Even if all the documents belong to one person, they must all have their apostille.
How Long Does It Take To Legalise A Document UK?
Legalising a document in the UK can take anywhere from 6-20 working days. Studies have shown that most apostilles are issued within two working days. Suppose your documents violate any of the rules or there are delays from courier service. It could take up to 20 or more days to finish the process. If your application is challenging to process and it includes a seal or signature that needs to be confirmed, it can delay the process. If the FCDO doesn't recognise the person who signed your document, they will have to be contacted to confirm the signature. This act alone (assuming the person responds promptly) can take up to 3-4 working days. Suppose all your documents are in order and are signed by someone of legal standing, such as a government official, a practising solicitor or a notary official. In that case, everything is bound to go smoothly, which will fast-track the whole process.
London Apostille Service Ltd. 83 Victoria St, London, SW1H 0HW +44 (0) 207 0500 692 hello@apostillelondon.com https://apostillelondon.com/document-legalisation/