Apostille service overview:
  1. The original & copy of the enrolment letter can be apostilled
  2. An FCDO-registered solicitor or notary must certify the educational document before we can get an apostille.
  3. Email, post, or deliver your GCSEs in person
  • 5-7 day service from £98
  • 2–3-day service from £120
  • 1 day (next business day) from £130
  • 1-day e-Apostille from £167

The price includes admin fees, solicitor certification, apostille certificate, FCDO fees, and VAT.

Our solicitors need to see the original to get an apostille for your GCSEs, A Levels, Edexcel, BTEC, NVQ, SVQ, AQA, OCR, CCEA, etc.

Let us know if we should apostille the original or a certified copy.

If you only have a COPY, or a digital download (PDF), our solicitors will require proof that your copy/PDF is genuine. This can be achieved by asking the issuing university to send an email to our solicitors directly.

Originals do not require proof for the solicitor or notary.

We can return the legalised documents via DHL or Royal Mail (next-day service), or you can collect them in person.

Jump to: How much does it cost? ↓ How long does it take?

The full order process

Step one:

Make sure that your GCSE document can be legalised with an apostille. Your document should not be damaged or altered in any way.

Step two:

Contact our office.

When emailing, please provide the following information:

  • In which country will your GCSE be used?
  • How soon do you need the apostille?
  • Do you also require embassy legalisation?
  • How will the GCSE be delivered and returned?

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

If you accept the quotation, we will send an invoice to be paid, and the process of getting an apostille starts.

Step three:

Once your GCSE or A Level certificate has been apostilled, we will send you a scanned copy via email.

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

Note that we return documents by DHL or Royal Mail only. If you want to make other arrangements, please let us know.


How much does it cost?

For personal documents, prices are as follows:

  • 5-7 day service from £98
  • 2–3-day service from £120.
  • 1-day (next business day) from £130
  • 1-day e-Apostille from £167

The price includes admin, solicitor, and FCDO fees, and VAT. Business documents incur an additional processing fee.

There could be additional costs, depending on another service you choose and how many documents you wish to apostille. Additional cost examples are:

  • Translations start from £65
  • Notarisation by notary public (+ £96)
  • Return delivery costs (+ £12)
  • Embassy legalisation (from + £75)

How long does it take to get an apostille?

There are 4 options for getting an apostille.

Option one: 5-7 days:

Your documents are “posted” to the FCDO in Milton Keynes and then posted back to our office – or your address. This process usually takes about 5-7 business days.

Option two: 2 to 3 days:

  • If documents arrive by 10:30 am, it will take 2 days
  • If documents arrive after 10:30 am, then it will take 3 days
  • Documents are submitted and collected in person

Option three: 1 day (next business day)

  • Documents must arrive before 10:30 am for the next-day service.
  • Documents can be collected around 3:30 pm the next day.
  • Documents are submitted and collected in person

Option four: e-Apostille 1 to 2 days 

Electronic apostilles are usually completed within 24 hours but can take two working days, depending on the FCDO’s workload.

Do I have to come to your office?

No, you do not have to come to our office. You can email a PDF version of your GCSE or other educational certificates.

Your documents can also be sent by courier or by post. We recommend using a tracked service if you send your documents by post. We return your documents in the same way.

If it is more convenient, you can of course attend our office in person to both deliver and collect documents.

You must only attend in person if a notary public must notarise your GCSE. Please let us know if you need notarisation.

When do I need to get apostilles for GCSEs, A Levels, Edexcel, BTEC, NVQ, SVQ, AQA, OCR, and CCEA?

You need to get apostilles for your UK education and training certificates when requested by a foreign government, agency, organisation, or employer.

Why might someone need an apostille for GCSEs & A Levels?

  • UK nationals may need apostilles for the purposes of living, studying or working abroad.
  • International students who have gained qualifications in the UK may need apostilles for their qualifications when they return to their home country or move to another country.

What are the requirements to get apostilles for GCSEs, A Levels etc?

To get an apostille from the Legalisation Office of the FCDO, your GCSEs, A Levels, Edexcel, BTEC, education and training qualifications etc, must have been issued by a recognised UK authority.

You cannot get UK apostilles for certificates issued in another country.

Can I use photocopies of my GCSEs, A Levels, Edexcel, BTEC, NVQ, SVQ, AQA, OCR, CCEA etc to get apostilles?

Yes, it is possible to get an apostille for solicitor-certified copies of GCSEs, A Levels, Edexcel, BTEC, NVQ, SVQ, etc. Most customers use a certified copy and only use the original certificate if the overseas authority requests it.

If the requesting country is not part of the Apostille Convention, you may need to notarise your qualifications.

Using a certified copy means you can email the PDF version of your qualification, and you don’t need to bring the original to our office.

Do I need translations of my GCSEs or A Levels?

You will only need to translate your qualifications if a translation has been requested. All translations must be certified as ‘true translations’.

Additionally, solicitor or notary certification can also be requested.

Most translations are completed in 24 hours. We also offer emergency same-day translations for some documents.

For all translation enquires don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office.

Is it possible to request an apostille for GCSEs in multiple languages?

Yes, getting an apostille for GCSEs that have been translated into multiple languages is possible.

On top of the translator’s certification, you also need to certify each translation requiring an apostille.

Each translated GCSE certificate must be apostilled separately.

Check with the requesting authority if you need supporting documents to be translated too.

Some overseas authorities request that the original qualification (not translated) is also presented when presenting translated documents.

Are there restrictions on the use of an apostille for GCSEs in certain countries or industries?

There are usually no restrictions on using your apostilled GCSE or A Level qualification if the requesting authority resides in a country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Some countries may have specific requirements for using apostilled documents, such as requiring that the documents be translated into the local language.

Some countries may only accept apostilled GCSE and A Level qualifications that were issued within a specific time frame before they can be used.

You may need to provide additional supporting documents or authenticate your documents by a local embassy or consulate, especially if the country you use your GCSE in is not part of the Hauge Apostille Convention.

Can I get an apostille for my GCSEs if I have lost my original certificates?

You cannot get replacements if you have lost your original GCSE certificates. [2].

However, you can obtain a ‘certified statement of results’ from the Board of Examiners that issued your original certificate If you are unsure which board issued your certificates, you should contact your school or college.

You may be charged a fee, and proof of your identity may be required.

Please also check with the requesting authority that they accept the ‘Certified statement of results’.

Can I visit the Legalisation Office in person or request an apostille online?

You cannot attend the Legalisation Office in person! Since the pandemic, the legalisation office in Milton Keynes has stopped receiving in-person submissions from the public. Only registered agents like us can attend in person.

The same applies to the Legalisation Office in London (the FCDO). The London office deals with express/same-day services only. You must be a registered apostille agent to access their same-day service.

You can use the official UK government website to request an apostille for your document. You must fill out an online form and then post your qualifications to the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. The apostilled documents are posted back to you by post or courier.

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] Register of Regulated Qualifications
https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/

[2] Get a replacement exam certificate
https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate

Image Credit: chesterfield.ac.uk
https://www.chesterfield.ac.uk/gcse-maths-and-english-results-give-students-the-grades-they-need/