How long does it take to get an apostille for a UK armed forces ID card?

Standard processing times for getting an apostille is 1-2 working days. Here is an explanation of the difference between the 1 to 2 day service times: If your documents arrive by 10 am, it will take 1 day to process your documents + next-day return delivery. If your documents arrive after 10 am, then it would take 2 days to apostille your documents + next day return delivery. We also offer a same-day apostille service. Documents must arrive before 10 am for the same-day service. Documents can be collected around 4 pm the same day. Same-day service assumes you can drop off and collect your documents on the same day. The same-day becomes a 24-hour service if a courier service is used. Discover how the same-day apostille service works .

How To Legalise an Armed Forces ID Card With an Apostille

Apostille service overview:

We need the original Armed Forces ID card
Post or hand deliver the ID card
An FCDO-registered solicitor must certify your force ID card

3-4 day apostille service from £120
1 day (next business day) from £135
5 – 48 hours e-Apostille from £97

The price includes admin fees, solicitor certification, apostille certificate, FCDO fees, and VAT.

To get an apostille for your ID, we need to receive the original armed forces ID card in our office. You can deliver it in person or post it to our office in Westminster, London.

We can return the legalised armed forces ID card via DHL or Royal Mail (next-day service), or you can collect it in person.

Please note that UK armed forces ID cards do not qualify for an e-Apostille.

Jump to: How much does it cost? | How long does it take?

The full order process:

Step one:

Make sure your armed forces ID card can be legalised with an apostille. The official ID card must be valid and undamaged so a clear photocopy can be taken (front and back).

Step two:

Contact our office.

When emailing, please provide the following information:

Your armed forces ID card will be used in what country?
How soon do you need the apostille?
Do you also require embassy legalisation?
How will the ID card be delivered and returned?

When we have all the information, the team will assess your enquiry and give you are personalised and detailed quotation.

If you accept the quotation, we will send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting the apostille starts.

Step three:

As soon as your Armed Forces ID card has been apostilled, we will send you a scanned copy via email.

If you are not collecting your apostilled document from our London office – we will provide you with the tracking number given by the courier.

Note that we return documents by DHL or Royal Mail only. If you want to make other arrangements, please let us know.

How much does it cost?

3-4 day UK apostille service from £120
1 day (next business day) from £135
5-48 hours e-Apostille from £97

Our comprehensive fee covers:

Solicitor certification
FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) Fees
Administration
VAT

There could be additional costs, depending on your chosen service and how many documents you wish to apostille.

We will always provide a full breakdown to see precisely what you’re paying for.

Call +44 (0) 207 0500 692

Send your enquiry via email

Our fast-track apostille options

There are three options for getting an apostille in the UK.

Option one: 1 day (next business day)

Documents must arrive before 9:00 am for the next-day service.
Documents can be collected around 3:30 pm the next day.

Option two: 3 to 4 days:

If documents arrive after 9:30 am, it will take 3-4 days

Option three: e-Apostille 5 to 48 hours

If the document qualifies for an e-apostille, it is usually completed within 24 hours but can take two working days, depending on the FCDO’s workload.

Do I have to come to your office?

The only time you must attend in person is if your armed forces ID card must be notarised by a notary public. However, we find that attending our office is preferred by most officers.

We only take a photocopy, which takes 5 minutes, and officers take their ID cards with them and don’t have to leave the ID for the certification.

But, if you are not based in London or can’t travel to London, documents can be sent by courier or by post. We recommend using a tracked service if you send your documents by post. We return your documents in the same way.

Why do I need an apostille for my armed forces ID card?

You need to get an apostille when a foreign government, organisation, or individual requests for the legalisation of your ID card.

The apostille authenticates your armed forces ID and makes your armed forces card acceptable by all Hague member countries as an official ID.

Who can request an apostille for my UK armed forces ID card?

Any overseas person, business, government etc, can request an apostille for your armed forces ID card. In most cases, we see requests for an apostille from overseas recruitment agencies and government bodies.

Why must I get a certified copy of my warrant card for an apostille?

To get an apostille for an armed forces ID card, a copy of the card must first be made. A solicitor must certify the copy. In some instances (see below), a notary public must notarise the copy.

The certified copy is then submitted to the UK government’s Legalisation Office for the apostille.

The process of certification by a solicitor or notary public can be lengthy. We can ensure that all the necessary procedures are followed and can get your armed forces ID card apostilled for you in 1-3 days.

Why can’t my original UK armed forces ID card be used to get an apostille?

Armed forces ID cards must be kept intact, undamaged and unaltered. Damaged or altered ID cards are no longer valid [3].

In order to legalise a document, the FCDO must attach an apostille certificate to it. Affixing the apostille certificate to an original armed forces ID card would alter the card and would render it invalid.

For these reasons, the FCDO will only legalise a copy of the original card.

Should the copy of my armed forces ID card be certified by a solicitor or should a notary public notarise it?

The requirements of different countries vary. Countries which are party to the Hague Convention 1961 accept certification by a solicitor.

Countries not a party to the Hague convention may require notarisation of the copy by a notary public.

Certification by a solicitor confirms only that the ID card and its copy have been seen.

Notarisation by a notary public verifies that the ID card is genuine and that the copy is a true copy. The notary must check the card with the authority that issued it.

Does the apostilled copy of my armed forces ID card have an expiry date?

The apostilles validity is the same as your ID card’s validity.

The apostille only expires when your ID card expires.

Do I need a translation of my armed forces card?

The need for a translation is determined by the country which requests the apostille. A certified translation should be provided if the requesting country asks for it [2].

We offer translation for all official ID and warrant cards. Translation takes 2-3 days and usually costs £75 per warrant card, but we offer a discount for all UK enforcement agencies’ warrants and only charge £50 per ID.

Apostille for a UK Armed forces ID card - example

UK Armed forces ID card with apostille (example only) / logo crown copyright MoD

Armed forces ID card examples:

Veterans ID cards
MOD Form 90
Military IDs
Royal Navy identity card
British Army identity card

Call +44 (0) 207 0500 692

Send us an email enquiry today

References

This article has been written by experts and fact-checked by experts. We only link to high-quality sources like government information & data, original reporting and interviews with industry experts. Reputable publishers are also sourced and cited where appropriate to support the facts within our articles.