Are e‑apostilles accepted internationally?

Yes, but acceptance depends on the receiving authority (not just the country) and, crucially, on the document type if it originates in the UK. The UK’s e-Apostille system is available but has significant limitations regarding eligible documents.

Here’s the breakdown, focused on UK documents for overseas use:

The UK does offer e-apostilles, but with a major restriction: the document must be a PDF file electronically signed by a UK notary or solicitor.

This significantly expands the range of documents that could be eligible compared to my previous answers but introduces a new requirement: the involvement of a solicitor or notary who uses a qualified electronic signature.

Crucially, the following documents cannot be e-Apostilled in the UK, regardless of how they are signed or certified.

These always require a paper apostille:

• Birth, death, marriage, civil partnership, and adoption certificates (or any other document from the General Register Office).
• ACRO police certificates for England and Wales.
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificates for England and Wales.
• Disclosure certificates for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Fingerprint certificates.
• Membership certificates for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Even if a UK document is eligible for an e-Apostille, and even if the receiving country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention and generally accepts e-apostilles, the specific authority you submit the document to must also be able and willing to accept it.

Example: Spanish Visa Applications:

As a country, Spain is part of the Hague Convention and participates in the e-APP.

However, the specific authorities processing visa applications may not yet accept e-apostilles and may still require paper apostilles. This highlights that national-level acceptance does not guarantee acceptance at all levels of government or by all institutions.

Always check with the specific institution or authority in the destination country (e.g., university, employer, visa processing centre) to confirm whether they accept e-apostilles.

Some may still prefer or require paper apostilles, even if their country and other agencies within it generally accept electronic ones. This direct confirmation is essential.