The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) can refuse to issue an apostille for a UK document. Still, the critical point is that the reason for refusal is never simply because of the destination country’s status as a Hague Convention member (or non-member).
FCDO’s decision is based only on UK requirements:
The FCDO’s role in issuing an apostille is strictly limited to verifying the signature, seal, and capacity of the UK public official (which includes recognised UK solicitors and notaries) whose details appear on the document.
Their checks are purely internal, based on UK records and procedures. They do not apply different standards or refuse issuance based on where the document goes.
So, why would they refuse?
If the FCDO refuses to issue an apostille, it is always because the document or the authentication on it fails to meet the FCDO’s own requirements for issuance. This applies equally whether the document is destined for a Hague Convention country or not.
Common reasons are:
- Unverifiable UK signature/seal: The FCDO cannot match the signature/seal of the UK official, solicitor, or notary against their registered records.
- Document not eligible: The document doesn’t qualify as a UK ‘public document’ under FCDO rules and lacks the necessary solicitor/notary certification to make it eligible.
- Incorrect certification: If required, the solicitor/notary certification is missing, incomplete, or incorrectly worded according to FCDO standards.
- Damaged document/signature/seal: Physical damage prevents clear verification by the FCDO.
- Wrong document type: Trying to get a UK apostille on a non-UK document.
Hague status only affects acceptance, not FCDO issuance
The destination country is a Hague member, which means that if the FCDO successfully issues the apostille (because it meets UK requirements), that country must then accept the apostille as sufficient authentication. However, the FCDO is not compelled to issue an apostille if its internal verification fails.
How we prevent refusals:
Understanding these specific FCDO issuance requirements is central to our service here in London. We meticulously check your documents before submission to ensure they meet the criteria, preventing refusals based on these common UK-based issues.
This proactive checking is essential for our next-day apostille services, ensuring the fastest way to get an apostille isn’t delayed by preventable FCDO rejections.
