Have you been told you need a document ‘legalised‘, ‘apostilled‘, ‘attested‘, or ‘notarised‘ for use abroad? The terminology is confusing, but the solution is simple.
We provide a complete, ‘done-for-you‘ service that handles every single requirement.
From securing a fast-track apostille from the FCDO to managing full embassy legalisation and certified translations, we are your single point of contact for the entire process.
Our service is designed to do one thing: get your documents correctly legalised and accepted wherever you need them, with zero stress.
Our complete apostille services start from £87.
You don’t need to be an expert—that’s our job. We handle the complexity so you can have complete peace of mind.
Our ‘done-for-you’ legalisation process
What is legalisation?
Depending on the destination country, there are two ways to legally make a UK document valid for use abroad.
This process, called legalisation, proves your document’s authenticity through either a straightforward Apostille (Path A) or full Embassy legalisation (Path B)
Path A: The apostille
(For Hague Convention countries)
If the country where you’ll be using your document is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the process is streamlined.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issues and attaches a single certificate, known as an apostille, to your document.
We offer a wide range of apostille services to meet any requirement. Below are our three most popular options.
Apostille service options
| Service level: | Processing time: | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Express Apostille | Next business day | from £97 |
| Standard Apostille | 3-4 business days | from £87 |
| e-Apostille Service | 5 to 48 hours | from £97 |
Path B: Embassy legalisation
(For Non-Hague Convention countries)
If the destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, a more in-depth, multi-stage process called Embassy Legalisation (or Consular Attestation) is required.
This process is significantly more complex as each embassy has its own unique rules, fees, and processing times.
Successfully navigating this requires specialist knowledge, which is where our expert team comes in.
The embassy legalisation process
- 1Solicitor/notary certification. If required, our FCDO-registered solicitor or notary first verifies your document’s authenticity.
- 2FCDO apostille. Next, the document receives a UK apostille. This is a mandatory step before any embassy will accept it for legalisation.
- 3Embassy attestation. Finally, we present the apostilled document to the destination country’s embassy in London, where they apply their final stamps to make it legally valid in that country.
Note on educational & commercial documents:
The legalisation path for these documents often includes specialised steps in addition to the core 3-stage process.
Educational Documents: Following legalisation, some countries require final validation from their own Cultural Bureau or Attaché (e.g., Saudi Arabia’s Mosadaqa).
Commercial documents often need authentication from a Chamber of Commerce (before, after, or instead).
We recommend contacting us for a free document check for these types of documents to confirm the exact procedure.
Example timelines by embassy
Processing times can vary greatly. The short list below shows our estimated total turnaround times for some common countries.
Legalisation for any UK document
We handle the legalisation for all genuine UK-issued documents. Below are some of the most common types we process daily. Each document has its own set of requirements, all of which we manage for you.
Business documents
Articles of association
ACRO police certificate
Bankruptcy documents
Board resolutions
Certificate of free sale
Certificate of good standing
Certificate of incumbency
Certificate of origin
Certificate of residence
Company resolutions
Confirmation statements
HM Revenue & Customs
And many more…
While we specialise in legalising UK documents for worldwide use, we can often assist with legalising foreign documents. The process is different and depends on the specific document and country.
If your document was not issued in the UK, please get in touch with our office for a consultation before ordering. Our experts can advise on the correct procedure for your situation.
Trusted by thousands of clients worldwide
We have successfully legalised thousands of documents for clients around the globe. But don’t just take our word for it—see what they have to say.
The London Apostille Services Ltd (LAS Ltd) advantage
– or why choose our service?
Fast track legalisation
As a registered FCDO legalisation agent, we offer the fastest way to get an apostille. Our same-day apostilles*, and next-day legalisation services ensure you meet the tightest deadlines.
Decades of expertise
With over 15 years of experience, our team spots potential issues before they become costly rejections. We guarantee we prepare your documents correctly the first time.
Dedicated human support
You get real human support throughout the process. There are no call centres, just expert advice when you need it for complete peace of mind.
Total convenience & security
Our ‘done-for-you’ service, secure document handling, and tracked worldwide delivery mean you can be confident your sensitive documents are in the safest hands.
Ultimately, choosing the right service comes down to trust. It’s the confidence that your important documents will be handled correctly, quickly, and with personal care. Our team is ready to provide you with that complete peace of mind.
FAQs:
Have more questions? Explore our complete FAQ section for dozens more answers.
