Every country where the Hague Apostille Convention applies must accept a valid e-apostille.
That holds even if the country does not issue e-apostilles itself. The HCCH, which runs the Convention, says refusing an e-apostille because it is electronic breaches the Convention.
Acceptance of the apostille is only half the picture. The organisation receiving your document still decides whether it meets its rules. It may want an original rather than a copy, or a notary’s certificate rather than a solicitor.
This guide covers what that means for UK documents. It explains which documents can get a UK e-apostille, how to check one, and where to verify apostilles issued in 65 countries.
Accepting, issuing and verifying: what’s the difference?
An e-apostille is an apostille issued and signed electronically, usually as a PDF. People often mix up three separate things.
| Terms | What it means |
|---|---|
|
Accepting e-apostilles |
Recognising a valid e-apostille issued by another Convention country. Every Convention country must do this. |
| Issuing e-apostilles | Offering an electronic apostille service for its own documents. Fewer than 50 countries do this so far. |
| Running an e-register | Offering an online service to check an apostille. Many registers check paper apostilles too. |
The table below lists verification registers. It is not a list of the only countries that accept e-apostilles. A country can accept them without appearing in it.
To check whether the Convention applies between two countries, use the HCCH status table. Joining dates and objections can affect the answer.
What should you check before ordering a UK e-apostille?
Start with the organisation’s instructions for your document. They tell you what really matters.
The two official sources take different lines on one point. The HCCH says asking in advance whether an e-apostille will be accepted is not good practice. GOV.UK still advises asking your recipient whether they need a paper or electronic apostille.
In practice, follow the recipient’s written instructions. If they ask for paper, choose paper. If they say nothing about format, you cannot refuse a valid e-apostille just because it’s electronic.
The FCDO cannot refund your fee if the recipient rejects the document. That’s another reason to get their requirements in writing before you order.
Which UK documents can get an e-apostille?
Your document must be electronically signed by a UK solicitor or notary. A plain scan is not enough.
Some documents cannot get an e-apostille at all. The issuing bodies do not allow electronic copies to be legalised. They need the paper service instead.
The FCDO’s published time for an e-apostille is up to two working days. It can take longer if a signature needs checking. Allow extra time for solicitor or notary certification before that.
How to verify a UK e-apostille
Use the official GOV.UK apostille verification service. Enter the details printed on the apostille.
Always check a UK apostille on the UK service, wherever it is going. A UK e-apostille sent to Spain is checked on the UK service, not Spain’s. Spain’s register only covers apostilles issued in Spain.
The same GOV.UK service checks UK paper apostilles too.
Official apostille verification registers by country
This table lists the 65 countries in the HCCH e-APP implementation chart, checked on 1 November 2026. Costa Rica is updated based on its government’s own announcement.
Choose the country and authority that issued the apostille. Where there is more than one link, follow the instructions printed on the certificate. Some links open a service page first. QR-code systems use the code on the certificate to open its record.
Get help with your UK e-apostille
London Apostille Services Ltd can check whether your document suits the electronic route. We arrange solicitor or notary certification where it’s needed. Then we handle the FCDO application for you.
See our UK e-apostille service for options and current prices.
