How to get an apostille for academic documents
  1. Originals & copies of academic documents can be apostilled
  2. Both the original and copy must be solicitor-certified
  3. Email, post, or deliver your academic documents in person
  4. We get the apostille and return the academic certificate
  5. Standard process takes 2-3 days and starts from £120

Ensuring your UK academic credentials – such as degrees, diplomas, transcripts, or other qualifications – are accepted internationally requires a UK apostille.

We specialise in providing a fast apostille service, making overseas recognition straightforward and efficient.

How our express apostille service for academic documents works

  • Solicitor certification (Essential first step):

    Before the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can issue an apostille for any UK academic document (the original or a copy), it must be certified by a UK solicitor or a notary public.

    Our in-house solicitors can certify your documents. To do this, they must see the original document to verify its authenticity. We can then certify the original itself or a copy as a true likeness of the original.

    This applies to all academic papers, including degrees, transcripts, diplomas, and other qualifications.

  • Send us your documents:

    If you’re unsure, you can email us scans for an initial check (if you’re unsure), post your original documents to us, or deliver them to our London office.

  • We handle the fast-track apostille with the FCDO:

    Once solicitor-certified, we’ll manage the entire apostille legalisation process with the FCDO on your behalf.

  • Receive your apostilled academic certificate:

    We’ll promptly return your legalised academic certificate. You can collect it from our London office (8 am to 6 pm weekday access) or we can dispatch it via DHL courier (next-day service).

How long does an apostille take & what does it cost?

We offer several options to suit your urgency, including next-day legalisation for those needing the fastest way to get an apostille.

Our standard apostille process typically takes 2-3 working days, and prices start from £120.

This includes solicitor certification fees, all FCDO fees, our service fees, and VAT.

Here are your options:

  • Urgent apostille – Next Business Day Service (Our Fastest)
    Requirement: Documents must arrive at our office before 9:30 am.
    Turnaround: Documents are typically ready for collection or dispatch around 3:30 pm the next business day. This is our premier 24-hour apostille solution for physical documents.
  • Standard apostille service – 2 to 3 Working Days
    Turnaround: If documents arrive after the 9:30 am cut-off for next-day service, or if you select our standard option, the process generally takes 2 to 3 working days.
  • e-Apostille service – Typically 8-48 Hours
    Suitability: This digital option is only available if your academic document qualifies for an e-Apostille (e.g., some digitally issued university documents verifiable by the FCDO).
    Turnaround: Usually completed within 24 hours, but can take up to two working days depending on the FCDO’s current workload.

FAQs about academic apostilles

Here are answers to some common queries:

This depends on the authority requesting your documents overseas.

Often, our solicitor can bind multiple academic documents from the same person and institution (e.g., your degree certificate and academic transcript) together to receive a single apostille certificate. This is a cost-effective approach.

However, if you also require Embassy attestation after the apostille, binding documents might not always be possible, as this depends on the specific country’s rules.

It’s always best to check requirements first. Our experts are happy to advise!

Yes, it’s sometimes possible for us to help get a UK apostille for academic documents issued by an overseas university. However, this can be a more complicated, time-consuming, and potentially expensive procedure in the UK.

Recommendation: It’s usually quicker and more cost-effective to obtain an apostille from the competent authority in the country where the academic documents were initially issued.

UK process: If you wish to proceed with a UK apostille, the FCDO may issue one if the overseas documents have been appropriately certified by a UK solicitor or a notary public. The FCDO will only accept certified or notarised copies of the originals.