Service summary:
  • We can apostille both the original and a certified copy
  • You can email us a copy or drop it off at our office
  • We do the rest. Get your apostille and return your documents.
  • The process takes 2-3 days and starts from £120.

Some countries request an apostille for a certificate of residence to confirm UK residence status for tax purposes.

If the issuing HMRC official has not signed the certificate of residence, or if the signature has been electronically issued, it must be solicitor certified before an apostille certificate can be attached by the FCDO.

The apostille is usually attached to the original certificate. However, a solicitor-certified copy can also be used.

We process documents from the HMRC for overseas tax purposes every day. Hire us to get your certificate apostilled, hassle-free and guaranteed.

Same-day emergency service is available if we receive your document(s) before 10 am. Or you can request a 24-hour apostille.

How to order:  

Step one:

Check that you have the certificate of residency (for businesses) and not the ‘confirmation of residency’ (for individuals). You may need both, so worth checking.

Check if your certificate is the original (a hard copy received by post) – or an electronically issued version, for example, a PDF received via email.

Check if an HMRC official has signed the certificate.

If you don’t want to post your certificate, check with the requesting authority if it is acceptable to apostille a photocopy.

Step two:

Get the residency certificate certified.

If your residency certificate is not the original and does not bear an official signature, it must be solicitor certified.

You can post your original certificate (recorded or special delivery) or drop it off in person at our office.

Step three:

Contact our office. Please provide the following information:

  • How many documents need an apostille?
  • Is your residency certificate already certified?
  • In which country will your certificate be used?
  • How soon do you need the apostille?
  • Will you be mailing or dropping the documents off?
  • Any other information that we need to know about

Note that we cannot request the certificate of residency from the HMRC on your behalf.

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 send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille for your certificate starts.

Step four:

As soon as your birth certificate has been apostilled, we will send you a scanned copy via email to inform you that the process has been completed successfully and your certificate is on its way or ready to be collected.

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

Note that we return documents with DHL (only).

How much does it cost?

Getting an apostille for a certificate of residence starts from £120. (Includes FCDO fees, our fees & VAT).

If the certificate requires solicitor certification, the cost is £150. (This includes all fees)

Additional costs will depend on what other service you choose (express or same-day service) if you need a notary, if you also need embassy attestation, and what return delivery method is required.

Why is an apostille required for the HMRC certificate of residence?

You require an apostille for the certificate of residence to provide proof of paying tax when conducting business outside the UK.

The apostille also entitles the company to gain relief for double taxation.

If the business has already paid the tax, the firm may be entitled to a refund from the tax office.

What information is found on the certificate of residence?

The information found on the certificate of residence issued in the UK includes the following:

For individuals:

  • The total number of days you were in the UK during a specific tax year.
  • Whether or not you spent less than 183 days in the UK in the tax year.
  • The date you arrived or left the UK. As per the SRT rules, in case you left or arrived in the UK in a tax year, you will need a certificate of resident document legalised in the UK, showing the date you ceased being a resident. [2]

For companies that have not yet filed their tax returns:

  • The name and addresses of each shareholder and director
  • The reason why the company believes they are residents of the UK.

We provide an apostille service for both individuals as well as companies

Example of the HMRC application form for a certificate of residence
HMRC application for for a certificate of residence (page one example)

Who provides the apostille?

The FCDO provides the apostille for certificates of residence.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office apostilles all documents issued in the UK. They authenticate the signature on the certificates. You can contact their office directly or use an apostille agency.

Which conditions are needed to receive the certificate of residence?

You must fulfil the following requirements as a business to receive the residency certificate:

  • There must be a presence of a UK director.
  • The presence of in-house history.
  • The company should not be an agency.
  • The company should not be loss-making.

You must also provide the following additional information:

  • Why do you need the certificate of residence
  • The specific double taxation agreement you wish to claim under.
  • The type of income you want to make a claim for.
  • The length of time you wish to use the certificate of residence.
  • Name of the country in which the certificate is expected to be used.
  • The type of income for which the certificate will be issued.
  • The name and address of the company.
  • Evidence that the company does not have representative offices in other states.

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.

[1] How to apply for a certificate of residence
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-certificate-of-residence

[2] Guidance note for residence
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/residence-domicile-and-remittance-basis-rules-uk-tax-liability/guidance-note-for-residence-domicile-and-the-remittance-basis-rdr1

[3] Application for a certificate of residence
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672485/APSS146E_1217.pdf