UK Document Legalisation for DR Congo: Apostille + Consulate

The Democratic Republic of Congo is not a Contracting Party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so a UK FCDO apostille is only the middle step. Every document must also be stamped with a DRC consular stamp in London.

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UK FCDO apostille (after any required notarial or solicitor certification).
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Consular legalisation at the Consulate of the DRC in London.

We are an FCDO-registered legalisation agent and make daily trips to the apostille office in Milton Keynes to obtain apostilles, then submit the apostilled documents to the DRC Consulate for its final attestation.

Legalisation path for Congo (DRC)– summary

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Certify – UK, FCDO-registered solicitor/notary if the document is not already an original UK public instrument.
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Translate – full French translation; notarise the translation and staple it to the English original.
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Apostille – obtain the FCDO apostille on the stapled English-French bundle.
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Consular attestation – book an appointment, complete the online form, then lodge the bundle, copies and ID at 281 Gray’s Inn Road; pay £150 by card and collect roughly 1 – 2 weeks later.

Once both the UK apostille and the DRC consular stamp are in place, the document is legally recognised across the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Key points:

Hague status: non-member – apostille plus DRC consular legalisation required.
Consular fee: £150 per document, payment by card only.
Consular turnaround: 1 – 2 weeks once lodged.
Language: every file must include a French translation stapled or stapled/bound to the English original.
Supporting papers: a photocopy of the apostilled document, a copy of each signatory’s passport, a recent proof of UK address, and the DRC consular application form (completed online after an appointment slot is confirmed).

Practical notes:

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Bundling: if several documents form one transaction (e.g., a set of corporate resolutions), each must be translated, notarised, apostilled and stamped individually.
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Appointments & posting: the consulate releases slots about two weeks in advance; postal submissions are not accepted—an in-person appointment is mandatory.
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Translation quality: Use a professional French translator; Consulate staff reject poor or machine translations.

Understanding document bundling: Please note that documents cannot be processed as a ‘bundle’ under a single stamp, even if they relate to the same deal. The authorities treat every document as a separate legal entity.

For example, if you have a corporate set containing a Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Association, and Board Resolutions, these count as three separate items. You will need to arrange translation, notarisation, and an apostille for each one individually.

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Price examples:

Document Type	Cost per document
Personall document + solicitor + apostille + consular legalisation	From £280
Commercial document + notarisation + apostille + consular legalisation	From £416

Prices include all fees and VAT

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Need assistance?

If you find the legalisation process overwhelming or time-consuming, consider seeking assistance from a professional document legalisation service like us. We can handle the entire process on your behalf, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and peace of mind.

Included in our embassy attestation service:

We advise and check that your documents meet attestation criteria
If documents need to be certified, we get a solicitor
We submit your documents to the FCDO for the apostille
We arrange and complete embassy attestation
Documents are returned by your preferred chosen method
You’ll also get a digital copy of your attested documents
We are competitively priced with no hidden fees
We have a service guarantee! If we can’t get your documents attested, we refund our fee.

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FAQs

Do you handle the entire DRC legalisation process end-to-end?

Yes. We manage the full chain from checks and preparation → (if needed) solicitor/notary certification → French translation → UK FCDO apostille → DRC Embassy legalisation in London → return delivery.

What do you need from me to start the process?

Typically:

The document(s) you need legalised (originals where required)
A passport copy for the signatory/applicant (we’ll tell you exactly whose ID is needed)
A recent UK proof of address
Confirmation of what the document will be used for in DRC (personal vs commercial matters)

If the signatory is a Congolese national, the Embassy may ask for a Congolese passport/Carte Consulaire instead of (or as well as) the standard ID set — we’ll guide you based on your circumstances.

Do my documents need solicitor or notary certification before the apostille?

Sometimes. Public UK originals (e.g., GRO certificates, ACRO, many court/Companies House documents) do not need certification.

Private documents (e.g., powers of attorney, letters, agreements, and some degrees) must first be certified by an FCDO-registered solicitor or notary. We confirm this at the “route check” stage to ensure your file isn’t rejected.

Can you arrange the French translation as part of the service?

Yes. If you want a “done-for-you” file, we can organise:

French translation
Notary/solicitor certification of the translation (where required)
Correct binding/stapling so the Embassy receives the file in the expected format

How long does the whole process take?

As a practical guide (excluding postage to/from our office):

Notary/solicitor certification (if needed): often same day by appointment
FCDO apostille: depends on service level (standard vs premium)
DRC Embassy legalisation: commonly around 1–2 weeks after lodgement

If you’re working to a deadline, tell us — we’ll build the fastest viable route around your documents and the Embassy appointment availability.

Can you submit multiple documents in one appointment?

Yes — but each document is treated individually for DRC: each one typically needs its own translation, apostille, and Embassy stamp. If you have a pack (e.g., company resolutions), we’ll structure it so it’s accepted by the embassy.

Contact the Consulate of Democratic Republic of Congo in London

Address:
Democratic Republic of Congo
281 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8QF
Hours: Mon to Fri, 11 AM to 2 PM
Weekends: Sat & Sun CLOSED
Phone: +44 (0) 74 4860 0034
Email: info@ambardc-londres.gouv.cd