Apostille Criminal Record Check UK - 72 or 24 Hour Service

Service summary:

Let us know which criminal record check you have
We will advise on what service you will need to get an apostille
Then we legalise your criminal record check with the apostille
Lastly, we return your apostilled document by your chosen method
Price starts at £87 and takes 2-3 days or 24hours to complete

For us to help you get an apostille for a criminal background check, we need to establish which police certificate you have.

Some criminal record checks are issued with an official public signature, and some are issued unsigned. Unsigned documents, such as a DBS, must be solicitor-certified before legalisation.

We also need the original background check documents in our office.

We take care of the entire process. It usually takes only 2 to 3 days to get an apostille.

You can then collect the apostilled criminal record check from our central London office or instruct us to return your degree via post.

We use DHL or Royal Mail next-day return delivery, for all our documents, guaranteed and fully insured.

Your complete criminal record checks apostille service

The following are the services provided by our apostille service:

Checking the criminal record checks document
Processing the original document
Signing and certification by a solicitor
Provide the FCDO apostille within 1-2 days
Secure return delivery of your documents

How to get a criminal record check apostille

Step one:

Check that your criminal background paperwork is not damaged or altered in any way. The Legalisation Office can not apostille damaged or altered police records.

Step two:

Contact our office to place an order.

When emailing, please provide the following information:

What country will the criminal record check be used in?
Do you need a translation?
How soon do you need the apostille?
Other relevant information for our team

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

If you accept the quotation, we send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille for your criminal record check document starts.

We will take care of the entire legalisation process for you.

Final step:

As soon as your foundation degree has been apostilled, we will contact you, and you’ll receive a scanned copy via email. You’ll also be informed if the document has been couriered or when you can come to the office and collect it.

Note that we return documents with DHL or Royal Mail. DHL return deliveries – both national and international require the following details:

A full name
Full return address
Contact phone number

How much does it cost?

A standard apostille certificate for a criminal record check starts from £87.

Depending on another service you need, there could be additional costs, such as solicitor certification, premium service, and return delivery.

Call +44 (0) 207 0500 692

Send your enquiry via email

Types of criminal record checks we apostille

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
The ACPO Criminal Records Office (ACRO)
National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC)
Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS), which issues Basic, Standard and Enhanced record check documents, based on the level of screening requested for
Disclosure Scotland, a Scottish government department providing criminal record check specifically for employment purposes
Police Letters

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.

When a criminal record check needs an apostille

Your criminal record check will need an apostille if you intend to use it outside the UK.

While the document is valid domestically, foreign authorities will not accept it unless it is legalised for international use. The FCDO legalises documents by issuing an apostille, an internationally recognised certificate that authenticates the origin of your document.

Specifically, foreign authorities will typically require you to produce an apostilled criminal record check when:

Seeking to adopt a child.
Applying for a study visa.
Applying for residency, citizenship, or a work visa.
Seeking employment in fields dealing with children or vulnerable adults.

Order your apostille today

Countries that commonly require apostilled police certificates

An apostille legalises your document for use in the 127 countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Common destinations that are signatories to the convention include:

China
Japan
Canada
Australia
The United States
All 27 EU member states

For countries outside the Hague Convention (such as Qatar, Egypt, and Kuwait), an apostille alone is not enough. Your criminal record check must also receive embassy attestation after the FCDO apostilles it.

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Why use London Apostille Services Ltd

Here’s why you should use our services to apostille your criminal record check:

An end-to-end service: We handle every step of the document legalisation process, including solicitor certification and, where required, embassy attestation.
Transparent pricing: You can expect all-inclusive pricing with no hidden fees. The prices listed on our website are what you’ll pay.
Responsive support: If you have questions or need status updates, our team is available by phone or email to provide answers.
Fast turnaround: If you have an urgent request for legalisation, simply use our Express Service and your apostille will be ready the next working day.

Still have questions? Contact us

What our clients are saying

We’ve successfully helped several clients process document legalisations for several destinations around the world. You don’t have to take our word for it, though.

Here’s what some of our past clients have to say:

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about obtaining an apostille for a criminal record check in the UK.

Can you process criminal record checks that have already been solicitor certified?

Yes, we can process your ready-certified criminal record check with an apostille. The document must have been certified by a UK solicitor registered on the Legalisation Office database of recognised signatories.

The document will be rejected if the signing solicitor is not registered with the FCDO.

I am overseas, can I still get an apostille?

Yes, you can still get an apostille for your criminal record certificate even if you are not in the UK. You need to get the original documents to our office, either by post, private courier, friend, or family member. Apostilled certificates can be collected or posted to any address worldwide.

Can I get an e-apostille for my criminal record check?

No, the FCDO does not currently issue e-apostilles for criminal record checks.

The traditional paper-based apostille applies, and we’ll require you to send the original criminal record check document (physical copy) to our office if you want us to manage the process.

How long does it take to apostille a criminal record check?

If you submit the document independently to the FCDO (DIY route), it will likely take 3+ weeks.

However, using our services, it will take 1 working day (Express Service) or 3-4 days (Standard Service). Our firm is registered with the FCDO as a business user, allowing us access to the business counter to drop off and pick up documents each working day.

What is the difference between an ACRO certificate and a DBS check for apostille purposes?

A DBS check must first be certified by an FCDO-registered solicitor/notary before it can be apostilled. In contrast, an ACRO certificate can be apostilled directly as is, since it typically contains the signature and stamp of an official that the FCDO already has on file.

Does an apostille on a criminal record check expire?

An apostille does not have an expiry date. However, some requesting authorities may not accept the underlying document if it is more than 3 or 6 months old.

Get your criminal record check apostilled quickly.

When you have a time-sensitive request for an apostilled criminal record check, you can count on us to help you meet the deadline.

Further, we provide a one-stop solution so you don’t have to coordinate multiple professionals to get your document fully legalised for your destination.

Our services include:

Reviewing and preparing your document to ensure it is apostille-ready
Arranging for solicitor certification (where required) using our vetted network of London solicitors
Facilitating the actual apostille process quickly using our privileges as an FCDO-registered business user
Facilitating embassy attestation if your destination is a non-Hague Convention country