Turnaround times for legalisation services.

The short answer is: it depends on the service route you need. Some documents can be completed the next working day, some take 3–4 working days, and some e-apostilles are issued within 24–48 hours.

If embassy attestation is also required, the total turnaround is longer and depends on the country involved.

What matters most is this: turnaround time starts when we receive your documents, and they are ready to process — not when the order is placed.

If your documents need solicitor certification, notarisation, issuer verification, translation, or embassy attestation, those steps add time before the final document is ready.

All turnaround times listed below are in business days unless otherwise stated.

The same-day service is reserved for genuinely urgent and time-sensitive documents.

The FCDO requires supporting evidence of urgency before granting approval, and the application must be submitted to the FCDO by 4:00 PM the day before the intended legalisation date.

This is a strict FCDO requirement.

If approved, we need your document with us by 9:30 AM, and it will be ready for collection at approximately 3:30 PM the same day.

Documents eligible for the Premium Same-Day service include:

In most other cases, our Next-Day Apostille service is the quicker and more cost-effective option for urgent apostille certification.

Turnaround: 1 business day from receipt of your document.

For most eligible documents received by our daily submission cut-off (9 AM), the apostille is usually ready the next working day, normally around 3:30 PM.

This is our most popular option for time-sensitive orders that do not qualify for the restricted same-day service.

This service is ideal if you already have the correct document ready and there are no issues with certification, signature checking, or embassy requirements.

Please note that next-day turnaround is still subject to the FCDO accepting and processing the document without delay.

Turnaround: 3–4 business days from receipt of your document.

Our standard service is the most popular option for customers who do not need their documents back urgently.

It offers the same professional handling and quality at a lower cost. As with all our services, the 3–4-day turnaround assumes your documents arrive ready for submission and that there are no FCDO signature queries or document issues.

Turnaround: 24–48 hours from receipt of your document.

The e-Apostille is a digital apostille issued electronically by the FCDO. It is accepted by a growing number of countries and is one of the fastest ways to legalise your document.

In some cases, e-apostilles may be issued on the same day, although same-day completion is not guaranteed. Electronic signature verification issues, document preparation, or solicitor/notary signing time can all affect the overall turnaround time.

Because the finished e-Apostille is delivered by email as a PDF, there is no physical return shipping time for this route.

Turnaround: approximately 15–30 minutes, depending on the case’s complexity.

If your document requires notarisation before it can be apostilled, this is usually completed the same day at our offices. The time needed depends on the type and number of documents involved.

Turnaround: same day, while you wait (in most cases).

Solicitor certification of documents — whether certified copies or certified originals — is usually completed on the spot. However, in some cases the issuing authority may need to confirm authenticity by email first, which can take a little longer.

For e-certification, please allow 24–48 hours. If certification is a prerequisite for your apostille, it will typically not add any extra days to your overall turnaround, but we will let you know if verification is needed.

Turnaround: 2–3 business days (standard).

If your document needs to be translated before it can be apostilled or attested, please allow 2–3 business days for the translation to be completed.

Urgent translations can often be completed within 12–24 hours, and occasional same-day service may be available depending on the language and document length.

Digital delivery of the translation is usually within 24 hours of completion; if a printed copy needs to be shipped, please allow 3–5 days. The apostille or attestation process begins after the translation is finalised.

For non-Hague Convention countries, your document may need to be attested by the relevant embassy or consulate in London after receiving its apostille.

Turnaround times vary by country, as each embassy operates on its own schedule. Some countries also require additional steps, such as Chamber of Commerce stamps or Cultural Bureau approval, which can extend the overall timeline.

Here are some typical turnaround times for popular destinations:

Embassy attestation turnaround can range from a few extra days to several weeks, depending on the embassy and any additional requirements.

These timescales are for the embassy attestation step only and are in addition to the apostille turnaround.

For other countries, please contact us for a current estimate, as embassy processing times can change without notice.

Many documents require more than one step. For example, a Power of Attorney destined for the UAE may need notarisation, an apostille, and embassy attestation. In these cases, the turnaround times are cumulative.

As a guide, here is what a typical multi-step order might look like using our express apostille service:

Estimated total: approximately 10–13 business days from receipt of your document.

If you need a combined turnaround estimate for your specific case, get in touch, and we will provide a clear timeline before you proceed.

Once your document has been processed, there are several options for getting it back to you:

Return shipping time is in addition to the processing turnaround listed above. Please note that courier and postal services are third-party providers, and occasional delays outside our control can occur.

We always aim to complete orders as quickly as possible, but all turnaround times on this page are estimates, not guarantees.

Turnaround begins when we receive your document, not when the order is placed. If you are posting your document to us, please allow time for delivery. First-class Royal Mail within the UK typically takes 1–2 business days.

All turnaround times are given in business days. The FCDO, embassies, and our offices do not process documents on weekends or UK bank holidays. Please factor this into your planning, particularly around Christmas, Easter, and the May bank holidays.

Turnaround times are dependent on the FCDO. Our stated timescales are based on normal FCDO processing. Occasionally, the FCDO may experience backlogs, raise signature queries, or require additional information. While this is uncommon, it can add a few extra days to your order. We will notify you immediately if any issue arises.

Factors that can affect turnaround. We always complete orders as quickly as possible, but timing may be affected by late document arrival, missing or incorrect documents, issuer verification delays, FCDO signature queries, electronic signature verification problems, embassy delays, or additional requirements such as translation, Chamber of Commerce stamps, or Cultural Bureau approval.

Embassy processing times are set by the embassies themselves. We have no control over embassy turnaround times, and these can change without notice. The times listed on this page reflect current typical processing, but we always recommend allowing a buffer if you are working to a fixed deadline.

Document rejections or corrections. If the FCDO or an embassy rejects a document — for example, due to a missing signature, incorrect format, or other issue — this will typically add a few extra business days while the problem is resolved and the document is resubmitted. We carry out a thorough document check before submission to minimise this risk.

Volume orders. Whether you are sending one document or ten, our turnaround times remain the same. Multiple documents are processed together within the same timeframe.

If you are not sure which service is fastest for your document, send us a scan and tell us the destination country.

We will confirm the correct legalisation route, explain the expected turnaround, and let you know the quickest available option.

Contact us on 0207 0500 692 or email hello@apostillelondon.com for a free document check and turnaround estimate.