Flag of LebanonLebanon is not a member of the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so every UK document needs two UK stages before it will be accepted by Lebanese authorities:

  • 1

    UK FCDO apostille – proves the UK signature or seal.

  • 2
    The final stamp of the Lebanese Consulate in London

For many commercial documents (certificates of origin, invoices), a third stage—certification by the London Chamber of Commerce and the Arab-British Chamber—may be required before the Consulate will authenticate commercial documents.

Full legalisation path for Lebanon:

  • Prepare/certify the document

    • Public UK records (birth certificates, Companies House documents, HMCTS orders) go straight for the apostille.
    • Private or commercial documents (contracts, degrees, powers of attorney) must first be certified by a UK FCDO-registered notary or solicitor.

  • Get a Hague apostille from the UK FCDO.

  • Submit the apostilled original to the Lebanese Consulate with a photocopy and the correct cash or postal-order fee.

  • Collect 5 to 7 working days later, with the Lebanese stamp on the reverse.

  • Arab-British Chamber of Commerce authentication is required for commercial docs (10-12 working days)

For Certificates of Origin, invoices and similar trade documents, your importer may demand the Chamber route: notary → London Chamber → Arab-British Chamber → Lebanese Consulate (no apostille). Always ask the recipient which route they expect.

Key points:

  • Commercial invoices / CO — expect the fee to reflect the sales value if large sums appear in the text.
  • The document must mention Lebanon. The Consulate often rejects paperwork that refers to another country.
  • Passport copies — for any power of attorney, include a clear copy of the signer’s passport. For a child’s birth certificate,e add copies of both parents’ passports and their marriage certificate.
  • Submitting & collecting — visit 09: 00 – 12: 30 (Monday–Friday). Collection is 13: 00 – 15: 00 on the stated release date.
  • Payment methods — cash or postal order only; no cards.
  • Translations — English is widely accepted, but some registries require an Arabic sworn translation. Arrange translation after the consular stamp so the translator can bind it beside—never over—the legalised page.
  • e-Apostilles are not accepted by the consulate

Popular price examples:

Document Type Cost per document
Personall document + solicitor + apostille + legalisation From £160
Commercial document + solicitor + apostille + legalisation £300
Commercial document + solicitor + apostille + ABCC & LLCI + legalisation £360

Consular fees (all payable to the embassy)

  • Commercial documents — £161 each when sent direct.
    If the Chambers’ route is required, add £78.50 per document (total £239.50). A high-value invoice may attract a percentage fee instead of the flat rate; request a quote first.

  • Personal documents — the fee depends on the type:

    • General power of attorney £72
    • Special power of attorney £36 per signature (plus £1 for every £1000 mentioned)
    • Birth, marriage, death certificates (GRO) £27
    • Affidavits, academic certificates, medical reports, divorce decree absolute £43
    • Wills and “pledge to deny ownership” £90
    • The Divorce Judgement also attracts 0.2 % of any monetary award (capped at £1 786).

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.

FAQs

Is an apostille enough for Lebanon?

Usually not — because Lebanon is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention, you typically need consular legalisation for acceptance in Lebanon.

The Embassy states that the document must first be notarised and legalised by the British Foreign Office, and that you must provide one copy of each original (front and back).

The Embassy says Certificates of Origin, Commercial Invoices, and Commercial Documents must be certified by the Arab British Chamber of Commerce.

For multiple categories (e.g., Power of Attorney, affidavit, will, court order, vital events), the Embassy requires a “Copy of ID.”

Embassy attestation service.

Attestation can be a complicated process. We are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.

Embassy attestation service.

Attestation can be a complicated process. We are here to help. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.